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We started on it in the mid-70s but dropped the ball. In another 35 years, we won’t have the same options we do today.
	–Community forum participant in Richmond, Kentucky

Like the community forum participant in Richmond, Kentucky, many Southerners came together this year to talk about energy issues out of some sense of urgency. Yet, others saw little relevance of the issue to their lives. Some saw it primarily as an environmental issue; others focused more on the economic aspects of energy and still others on national security. Some thought government should get out of the way and leave things up to the free market; others thought that relying on the free market to solve the energy problem was the problem—and that government should do more. Some favored more offshore drilling, while others wanted more attention focused on alternative energy research.

In all, more than 2,300 Southerners contributed their views on the topic of energy. Over 950 participated in 47 forums that were held in communities across the region, nearly 350 attended state policy dialogues in four states and an opening regional retreat in North Carolina, and over 1,000 shared their thoughts and priorities via Southern Growth’s online survey.

Despite the broad range of discussion and opinions, five key themes emerged from these deliberations. Southerners told us that we need to:

1. Educate students and the broader public about energy issues;
2. Pursue a broad range of energy options;
3. Begin with energy conservation and efficiency;
4. Encourage research and development related to new energy technologies; and
5. Ensure that the workforce is prepared for emerging green jobs.

More details on Listening to the South findings will be presented in Southern Growth’s 2009 Report on the Future of the South, to be released in summer 2009.

For more information, contact Linda Hoke at lhoke@southern.org.