National Clean Energy Week is a good time to recognize the important role Alaska can play in America’s energy future.

Our state has an abundance of natural resources and a long history of supporting energy production. As demand for reliable power continues to grow, Alaska has an opportunity to build on that strength by supporting the resources and technologies that make sense here.

That means developing Alaska’s natural gas, hydropower and geothermal resources while continuing to explore emerging technologies such as advanced nuclear energy. Alaska’s geography and energy needs vary dramatically from one community to another, so there is no single solution that works everywhere.

What we need is a system that allows good projects to move forward. Lengthy and unpredictable permitting processes can delay investment, drive up costs and prevent communities from seeing the benefits of new energy development.

Alaska should continue working toward an energy system that makes use of the resources we have while encouraging innovation and new investment. An all-of-the-above approach can strengthen reliability, support local jobs and give communities more options for meeting their energy needs.

National Clean Energy Week is an opportunity to recognize the progress already underway and keep building an energy future that works for Alaskans.

— State Sen. Robert Yundt, Wasilla

• • •

Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Please include your contact info. Letters under 200 words will have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length. If you’re citing statistics or published sources, please include citations or links. Read our full opinion guidelines here.