Rep. Gene Taylor, chairman of the House Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, is talking about making the Navy's next-generation Cruiser, CG(X), a nuclear-powered ship. Late last year, Taylor made clear his intention to increase the size of the fleet, and to make sure that as many vessels as possible would rely on nuclear propulsion, so as to reduce the Navy's dependence on oil. There had been some speculation that Taylor wanted to see the spectacularly over-budget DDG 1000, and possibly even the LCS, redesigned to incorporate a nuclear propulsion system, but that idea seems to have been dropped in favor of focusing on the still-on-the-drawing-board CG(X).

Earlier this month I spoke with Robert Work of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment about Taylor's plans to expand the Navy's use of nuclear power to ships other than carriers and submarines. He said oil would have to cost more than twice what it does now to justify the added expense. But Taylor seems totally unconcerned with cost, so long as the Navy has the right equipment.

“They’re [the Navy] still saying, ‘It’s going to cost more. Can we afford it?’ And I’m saying, ‘Look, don’t you worry about that side of it. Just think about the future. And let’s build us a ship that’s going to last 30 years. And let me make the case that, yes, it’s more than worth the 10 percent extra.’”

The more I hear from Taylor, the more I like him.