Reading today's post from the Roanoke Times editorial page, "Beware the Wind Energy Hot Air," brings home what I have stated before...wind farms built throughout the Texas plains will only increase transmission line corridors to the East. Something none of us wants to see happen.

I've never promoted the Pickens Plan, only reported it, and the fact it provided one solution - good, bad or indifferent. My old boss used to say repeatedly, “In life, we are defined by what we are for, not by what we are against.” We are a nation frustrated by the lack of decisive actions by our government. In retrospect, we only have ourselves to blame for our current energy crisis…no need to go there. I wish I could say the same for our economic crisis. Many of us feel as if we are losing control of our lives, and what we perceive to be the American Dream.

Who or what do we believe? For every article written, there seems to be a counterpoint. Wind farms...great - but they will only supply a small fraction of the power needed, not the 20% being promoted. Natural gas - yes, it's cleaner, but supply and demand will continue to be an issue, driving up costs to consumers. I own a portion of the natural gas and mineral rights to land sold generations ago, thanks to a shrewd great-grandfather who had the foresight to hold onto them, but it's never been a gold mine. How long can the country depend on natural gas reserves – 60 years as the ads proclaim? Doubtful.

Another of today’s news posts – “Two Large Solar Plants Planned in California” provides yet another forecast. The two plants will produce twelve times as much electricity as the largest solar plant in existence today. The plants will take up 12.5 miles of land to generate 800 megawatts of power (“on a good sunny day”). One megawatt would generate enough electricity to power a large Wal-Mart store... or approximately 40,000 (3000 sq. ft) homes, where a coal-fired plant or small nuclear facility would generate the same amount of power with less use of land and a lower price tag.

Nevertheless, many states have mandated 10 – 20 percent of their overall energy use be derived from renewable energies implemented over a various number of years as part of the Renewable Portfolio Standard established by the federal government.

What we need to recognize is that change begins with each of us – as individuals. It’s happening; we are slowly reducing gasoline consumption, electric consumption, water consumption…whether it is out of necessity, foresight or moratoriums. Now, we face the prospect of another Cold War, suggested by some to be related to greed over oil reserves.

Hopefully, we can borrow the time needed to allow for a course of action that will avert unimaginable consequences.

Mandates, not regs, not voluntary efforts are needed. There are no quick fixes. Demand side management needs to be our #1 priority. It may come down to not having a choice.