After President Nixon delivered his energy message last April, critics complained that Administration plans lacked the sense of urgency that the growing energy crisis clearly demands. Last week the President changed that situation. In a message to Congress, he announced what amounts to a Phase II for energy. Between 1975 and 1980, Nixon proposes, $10 billion of federal funds should be spent on research and development aimed at providing the U.S. with ample energy resources for the foreseeable future.
The message was clear: the Administration now puts a top priority on its energy program. Besides the massive new expenditures, Nixon's thrust...