Several economists spoke today at the Energy Forum hoping to draw attention to the importance of developing domestic energy. One of the featured speakers at the Two Rivers Convention Center in downtown Grand Junction was John Felmy. He is the chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute in Washington D.C.

Felmy says that basic economics tell us that if we decrease our demand for gasoline prices would go down. He hopes our country can produce the vast majority of its own energy in the next dozen years, "Between what we can produce in this country of our own energy between our own imports from Canada and bio-fuels, we can become energy self-sufficient form a north American basis."

He says developing and using more natural gas will mean cleaner overall emissions. If more work is put into these types of energy, more jobs, revenue, and energy security can be created. He says individual consumers can help contribute to this goal and spend less time at the gas station. Examples of ways to help can be as simple as driving efficiently, properly inflating tires, and keeping your engine tuned.