developing creative short and long term solutions to today’s housing energy issues. We need to begin now with steps we can take at the state, local, and individual levels to address the problems. The federal government will catch up with us soon.

This year’s Affordable Housing Conference is one step, providing an opportunity to hear from national and state experts about trends in both the energy and housing markets. Workshops will cover such topics as ways to cut energy costs in your home or apartment, the outlook for the changing housing market, green initiatives, ways to avoid foreclosure,and others.

Maine can come out of this crisis a stronger state than when it went in, with a more diversified energy base, more energy-efficient housing and businesses, less reliance on imported oil, a smaller carbon footprint, and a stronger economy.

To quote former President John F. Kennedy: “If not us, who? If not now, when?”

-Dale McCormick

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity,”according to Albert Einstein, but you wouldn’t know that if you relied on today’s gloomy headlines. High energy costs. Reduced home values. More unemployment. Fewer home sales.Increasing food costs. Lower expectations.

There is no question Maine is beset with serious challenges, especially those related to the price of home heating oil and gasoline.

The question is: what are we going to do about it?

Maine people are renowned for their ingenuity, and Governor Baldacci leads a solution-oriented administration. We already are hard at work.