Solving this crisis will take many solutions — drilling is one of them.

Today’s energy crisis threatens to undermine not just the national economy, but also the economy here in Maine. Energy prices have risen to record levels and despite recent reductions, they remain at historic highs. These levels are dangerous because they are chipping away at the industries critical to Maine’s economy.

Examine for a moment the economic impact of two industries vulnerable to high energy prices: tourism, Maine’s largest industry, and forestry and paper, a significant industry throughout our great state.

Tourism employs more than 176,000 people, generating $3.6 billion in wages and $13.6 billion in sales of goods and services. Moreover, tourism-related activities raise $531 billion for our state coffers.

Forestry and paper are also significant contributors to the state’s economy. With an annual payroll of $1.2 billion, the industry employs more than 20,000 people in 63 manufacturing facilities throughout the state. Lastly, the value of the industry’s shipped products totals approximately $4.8 billion, mostly in the area of paper manufacturing.

Why should we be concerned about high energy prices? It’s simple. High natural gas and electricity prices hurt manufacturers because they are energy intensive. Nationally, high energy prices have forced many manufacturers to move operations offshore where costs are lower, leaving workers here at home without jobs. To be sure, the timber and paper industries here are smaller than they were, reflecting a national trend ignited by skyrocketing energy costs.

High gasoline prices force tourists to either stay home or travel closer to home; high electricity costs force hotels to raise their nightly rates. Restaurants, plagued by increasing food costs as a result of high energy costs, are also victimized. The result is increased energy prices passed on to consumers.

Each year, the United States imports 70 percent of its energy needs from foreign entities. In terms of dollars going to foreign countries, that’s more than $700 billion that could be put back into our economy!

This is unconscionable given we can safely access abundant domestic energy supplies on the Outer Continental Shelf – if Congress ever permits a vote on expanding offshore energy exploration.

As debate escalates, opponents of offshore energy exploration will no doubt try to convince people it will damage the environment. But facts simply don’t support their assertions.

Energy exploration uses state-of-the-art technology to identify and extract oil and natural gas from beneath the seabed. For example, the 3,000 offshore platforms in the paths of hurricanes Katrina and Rita survived and no significant spills resulted. A U.S. Minerals Management Service report found “the environmental record of the OCS program has been outstanding – there has not been a significant platform spill in the last 35 years.”

I’m a Mainer who values and promotes our tourism industry and who loves our 3,500 miles of shoreline. I would never want to endanger the livelihoods of our fishermen and Maine’s famed lobstermen who are as big a part of Maine culture as our beautiful coastline and our weathered-shingled homes and buildings.

As we look toward America’s future energy security, multiple solutions are being discussed. Some are urging the numerous alternative energy sources such as wind, water and solar, in addition to newly popular sources like ethanol and biodiesel. Others look to conservation as a centerpiece of our energy plan.

There is no single answer. The foundation of sound investment strategies is diversification; the same is true for sound energy strategies. Part of the diverse, multi-faceted solution is expanding offshore exploration for energy.

If we continue down the current path, we endanger our economic security now and for future generations. We must institute an energy policy that expands offshore exploration.

As I encounter candidates for the Maine Legislature, energy will be my first question.

I hope it will be yours, too.

Rep. Scott Lansley, R-Sabattus, represents House District 75 – Greene and Sabattus – in the Maine Legislature. He is the ranking Republican on the Taxation and Government Oversight committees and is chairman of the Androscoggin County Republican Committee.