Until the energy price crises that hit Washington state and many other regions of the country in the last few years, energy was an often-forgotten but critically important staple of our economy. Now, we have several challenges that must be addressed: prevention of the kind of price increases our region saw in the last two years, using our energy more conservatively, and developing new sources of energy for the future.

In order to prevent the astronomical price increases that hurt consumers and crippled many businesses in the Puget Sound region, we must develop and implement policies that will make our energy more reliable, diverse, and stable.

It also makes good economic sense to use our energy resources more wisely and efficiently. This doesn't mean we all have to turn our heat off and wear three sweaters at home; rather, it means doing more with the energy we have. Stronger energy efficiency standards for buildings and appliances will lower our energy costs and extend the life of our current energy supply. More fuel-efficient cars will not only lessen our dependence on foreign oil, it will lower your gas costs and make our air cleaner.

Traditional fossil fuel energy sources like natural gas, oil, and coal are limited, and that's why we need to use them wisely. In addition, we need to use more alternative and renewable energy and develop the energy technologies of the future. Wind and solar power, once thought to be hopelessly impractical, are within cents of being cost-competitive with fossil fuels. We need to encourage greater research, development and use of these clean and renewable energy sources. Fuel cells and geothermal energy are just a few of the energy technologies that can bring us into the 21st Century.

Not only will this embrace of new energy technologies make our economy more efficient and our environment cleaner and safer, but it will give America the opportunity to become a world leader in energy. Instead of relying on oil from the Middle East, Mexico, or Russia, we can become net exporters of fuel cells, solar panels, and other technologies that will create good American jobs and help the rest of the world develop with a cleaner, healthier energy source.