Over the next 15 years, Hawai'i has the real potential to become a world leader in the export of clean energy, renewable technologies and sustainable practices.

On the darker side, with more than 89 percent of its energy coming from imported oil, Hawai'i's future could very well end up devastated by continuing oil price increases or supply disruptions. The good news is there are things we can do to affect which future emerges. But only if we take determined action now.

With the opening of the legislative session, there is actually reason for guarded optimism on the energy front.

Both the governor and the Legislature seem to finally agree that fundamental change is needed if we are going to secure Hawai'i's energy future.

A consensus is growing that we must have a long-term, comprehensive energy policy that integrates all resources and strategies for maximum combined effect.

Consider where we could be. The Los Angeles municipal power utility has announced a voluntary acceleration of its renewable energy goals to 20 percent renewable energy in 2010, and Sweden fully expects to be at 50 percent renewable energy by 2010.

The small Scottish island of Islay, about the size of Moloka'i, has set its future sights on using wave energy to become a net exporter of energy in the form of hydrogen. This is no pipe dream. Islay is home to the world's first commercial wave energy plant, which has been feeding the island grid since 2000.

And Brazil today has already reached its goal of powering most of its motor vehicles with 100 percent ethanol made from — guess what? — sugar cane.

With Hawai'i's tremendous diversity of renewable energy resources and an overwhelming incentive to move away from oil, one might ask why Hawai'i is not leading this renewable energy revolution, exporting energy technology to the world and building a sustainable future for our island home.

The truth is, all we need to turn this potential into reality is a critical mass of visionary leaders willing to put aside limited, individual agendas and work as a team to create a far-sighted, comprehensive energy strategy for all of Hawai'i.

Unfortunately, the political process required to implement a world-class energy strategy will not be easy.

Traditional partisan politics, powerful vested interests and general resistance to change may yet conspire to keep Hawai'i on the same path that has brought us the highest energy costs in the nation and a precarious dependence on imported oil. We cannot afford to continue down this path.

As Hawai'i citizens, we need to pay careful attention to the energy debate. Most importantly, we must insist that our government and energy business leaders join together in a broad-based, genuine effort to lift Hawai'i up to its highest energy potential. Anything less from us or our leaders would be a bad sign that "business as usual" will rule Hawai'i's energy future.

H. Ray Starling is a Hawai'i attorney, energy consultant and former electric utility executive. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.