We’ve struggled with the consequences of an insufficient federal energy policy for nearly half a century. From the gas lines of the 1970s to the Keystone XL pipeline controversy of the past several years, the federal and state governments have engaged in a fractured and inefficient approach to the regulation of the energy industry allowing states, municipalities, and even individual citizens to delay and even defeat major projects that would decrease energy costs, increase our energy security, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

The absence of a cohesive and comprehensive energy policy has left us with regulatory uncertainty stifling innovation that would drive economic growth, high energy prices creating a drag on that same economy, and hollow promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without a sustainable plan to achieve those reductions.

Originally published in American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources on March 24, 2015.