I didn't say it was better. I just inferred that it's a commodity they could probably sell to the "right" people at the "right" price, "wink, wink". Or use for Ransom. 

If a Nuclear plant can produce electricity cheaper than an oil fired plant, it's not totally unreasonable to have one, even in an oil rich area. Everything has a cost. 

But yes, in this case it's a smoke screen.