The energy business is at a crossroads - whether the Supreme Court lets Vice President Cheney keep secret the names of his Energy Task Force or not. With natural gas and oil prices sky-rocketing and coal caught in the conflict of profitability vs. climate change, it is evident that change is in the air. Add droughts and failing electric grids and summer on its way - it's time to call the question: "How will we meet our energy needs?"

In spite of this being an election year, it may be time to move beyond power plays to real energy development. Who determines what kind of energy development becomes a key question when government money is needed. Is there a balanced plan that utilizes our resources without jeopardizing our health, economy or way of life? Who will lead the way?

Many states have responded to constituent concerns and are moving ahead to develop vast renewable energy sources. The governors of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Washington have all committed to significant Renewable Portfolio Standards, or minimum requirements for purchase of renewable energy supplies. Moves like this will stimulate states' clean energy industry, igniting a race to the top. "New Mexico," stated governor Bill Richardson, "wants to be the clean energy capital of the world." Will they be able to lower energy demand, keep the air clear, avoid losing jobs and fuel our homes and economy?

• Adopting energy efficiency standards in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming would eliminate the need for 34 new coal-fired power plants (35 are proposed to be built in the West), saving consumers and businesses $28 billion over the next fifteen years.
  
  
• Renewable energy generates more jobs per megawatt. If just 20% of our energy came from renewable sources (wind, sun, geothermal), as many as 240,000 new jobs would be created.
  
  
• Wind power plants on just 0.6% of the landmass of the lower 48 would provide 20% of America's electricity. Ranchers and farmers, particularly in the West, are installing wind turbines to generate needed revenue without hampering their way of life - even saving their lands from losses in drought years
  
  
• Energy efficiency is the most cost effective and cleanest form of energy development. It saves consumers money and lessens the need for new energy development. Efficiency technology is big business in Europe

Do consumers have to choose between whopping natural gas bills, more coal-caused air pollution, or higher costs and safety threats from nuclear power? What can be accomplished by simply increasing the amount of renewable sources tapped? How much can we save today through simple conservation and efficiency measures? Will new technologies - and other countries - quickly outpace the administration's energy policies that cling to current companies? Do we have to put coal companies at risk to save health, and the clear skies and clean rivers that attract billions of people and dollars to treasures like the Grand Canyon and Rockies? How can we combine the best of coal, gas, sun, wind, geothermal and efficiency to keep our country running?

• The biggest new coal-fired power plant is planned to be constructed on Navajo land in the Four Corners region.
  
  
• California has the highest wind power capacity in the nation, two-thirds more capacity than the second highest, Texas.
  
  
• In Colorado, Xcel Energy is planning a new coal-fired power plant near Pueblo.
  
  
• Colorado contains enough wind sources to provide over 16 times its electricity demand.
  
  
• The Colorado legislature will debate a bill in the upcoming session that calls for increased amounts of renewable energy sources by 2010.
  
  
• Minnesota added the most new wind power of any state in 2003. The state has the third highest wind generating capacity in the nation.