DOE BEGINS STUDY TO UNDERPIN ENERGY POLICY

The Department of Energy is preparing a new strategy to win public acceptance of expanded nuclear power, more oil exploration, and other energy goals pursued - but never attained - by past administrations. Those who formulated the plan say it will rest on figures compiled by computer to spell out how much energy the nation will need, where to get it, what it will cost, and how it will affect the environment.

``They've never done that before,'' said Henson Moore, deputy energy secretary. As a result, he said, the underpinnings of energy policy have been overly vulnerable to public challenge.

A special panel of the National Academy of Sciences has agreed to review the results and the final analysis, details of which will be announced later this month, Mr. Moore said.