We applaud the governor for taking the next step in developing a comprehensive energy policy plan for Michigan's future.

Throughout the Capacity Needs Forum there was a conclusion that Michigan's long-term energy needs will require addition generating capacity.

Physicists have known that dark energy could become negative and the universe could collapse sometime in the distant future, perhaps a trillion years. But now we see that we might be not in the beginning, but in the middle of the life cycle of our universe.

At a minimum, the Department of Energy needs to clarify the way in which it plans to handle future supply disruptions so that the states can minimize the confusion that leads to higher gas prices.

We need the economic and regulatory certainty to invest in a low-carbon energy future.

We've been through this before so we'll see what the future brings. But this energy thing is going to hurt everybody in the long run.