The notion that drilling for natural gas can solve the winter heating problem is a misconception. We are concerned about efforts to prey on people's fears about gas prices.

The fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all.

Prices for all kinds of heating -- natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and propane -- have all risen since last year. But thanks to a warm winter and higher inventory levels, the price of natural gas is continuing to decline. We're pleased to pass along these savings to our customers in Miami-Dade, Brevard, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties.

Do natural-gas prices at $7 mean less drilling in La Plata County? The short answer is no. We have plans that look five to seven years down the road. If the price goes up today and down tomorrow, that won't have an impact on what we do here tomorrow.

We should start by allowing drilling in Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge. It can provide billions of barrels of recoverable oil and trillions of cubic feet of recoverable natural gas.

Natural gas is the future. It is here.