Energy Issues

This week's election provided us with any number of important issues to watch in the coming months - including the President's re-election and the election of the first Asian-American woman from the East Coast to Congress.

  But a bigger issue that has emerged in the past week is this country's need to establish a new energy policy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition to the physical damage brought to the area by last week's Superstorm, the area has been nearly paralyzed by a gasoline shortage. Many homes have gone without heat and even more residents have found themselves without gasoline for their cars, keeping them from going to work and leaving them waiting in long lines hoping to get even the smallest amount of gas.

  The country's refusal to invest in energy alternatives is possibly the greatest challenge facing us in the coming years. Whether it be instability in the Middle East or shortages in our own supply, the country is at the mercy of forces beyond our control driving up prices and, at times, forcing families to choose between fuel and other necessities like food, rent and clothing.

  It is well past time that our elected officials started to make a dedicated effort to change our energy dependence, to invest in alternative strategies to heat our homes and power our vehicles. We call on our elected officials - especially our representatives in the U.S. House and Senate - to make this the top priority when the new legislative session begins in January.