<table> </table> Some of the nation&#8217;s most visionary governors are convening in Kansas this week to discuss one of the most important and challenging issues of our time: clean energy.</p><p>Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, co-chair with Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota of the bipartisan National Governors Association&#8217;s Securing a Clean Energy Future Task Force, leads a special initiative focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the potential for clean power.</p><p>Specifically, the questions are how these technologies can reduce America&#8217;s reliance on foreign oil, yield economic benefits for consumers and businesses, and reduce the emissions that cause global warming.</p><p>Many states are wrestling with complex energy issues and facing debates similar to the one that has become a flashpoint in Kansas. Gov. Sebelius has twice vetoed legislation that would overturn the denial of permits to Sunflower Electric, which is seeking to build two new coal-fired power plants.</p><p>Kansas&#8217; situation is hardly unique, though. Electricity shortages, rising energy prices, and the need for costly new generating capacity face governors from coast to coast. Not only are conventional coal-fired power plants the largest contributor to global-warming emissions, in the past several years they have become extremely expensive. The cost of building and fueling them has risen 131 percent and 50 percent, respectively.</p><p>Energy efficiency can free up the power needed to meet growing demand with quicker, cheaper and cleaner alternatives. And more governors are discovering this alternative.</p><p>The sheer scale of energy savings opportunities is enormous. According to the widely respected consulting firm McKinsey &amp; Co., the U.S. could cap its energy demand and its global warming emissions at today&#8217;s levels through the year 2030 &#8212; at a profit &#8212; just by making better use of the energy we already have and cutting out the waste.</p><p>Fifteen states have implemented binding energy efficiency savings targets, and at least five more have similar policies pending.</p><p>Governors are moving in the right direction, but they can do more.</p><p>States must change the way utilities make money. Most utilities are compensated based on their energy sales. The more power they sell, the more money they make.</p><p>Leading states are reversing that formula so that utilities make money for selling less power, through investments in energy efficiency instead of expensive and dirty new power plants.</p><p>For governors who find themselves increasingly concerned with rising energy prices, tightened energy supply, and the prospect of global warming, bold action on efficiency can provide real solutions.