Let’s get moving

Ketchikan (Alaska) Daily News: “We take pretty good care of our state, and we take offense when other people think they can manage it better.”

Hear, hear! We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, and the sentiment applies to Alaska — even though the quote came from a Wyoming official, Rep. Tom Lubnau.

Alaska recently joined forces with Wyoming, Utah and Texas to pool our resources, so to speak, and — it is hoped — increase our influence in Washington, D.C., when it comes to energy production policies.

The four states represented in the new Energy Producing States Committee are responsible for nearly a third of the nation’s domestic energy, but relatively small populations in three of the four states means our individual voices are somewhat weak.

Together, we have a better chance to successfully challenge federal regulations that hinder resource development.

The committee is interested in more than fossil fuels. Its members are looking at various ways to help make the United States energy independent, including renewable resources like water and wind.

Various economic studies have shown that the economy would improve faster if energy prices were not so high. Alaska has an abundance of untapped energy that could help the rest of the nation. What are we waiting for?