The power of the ocean is evident to anyone who has seen the crashing surf or felt the currents while swimming along the shore. But for too long the potential of that power to fulfill energy needs has been overlooked.

The gasoline crisis of the 1970s turned a spotlight on technologies such as ocean thermal energy conversion and geothermal (volcanic) energy. Several geothermal wells went in, and great strides were taken toward OTEC development near Keahole on the Big Island.

Eventually, the oil shortages eased, and although what's now called the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority has fostered various enterprises, the state's urgency to find alternative fuel sources ebbed.

Ocean thermal energy processes derive power from the temperature difference between surface and deep water. However, development has slowed since federal funds for a demonstration plant at Keahole lapsed a decade ago.

Now, the push for progress has resumed, with skyrocketing oil prices on the global market raising the stakes. The Big Island lab has plans for a 1-megawatt plant that could pry loose more investment capital for commercial ventures. In addition, ocean thermal plants can be used to produce hydrogen, another promising fuel source for cars and other needs now being served by petroleum.

Looking beyond OTEC, Hawai'i is well positioned to take the lead in the development of various alternative sources, including wave energy. It's great news to see that the Islands' potential is being touted nationally.

But the state can't rest on those laurels and easily could lose its advantage unless there is more aggressive action on several fronts. For example, wave energy is gaining enthusiasts, and the state of Oregon is making headway toward the development of a 50-megawatt wave park off its southern coast. This technology relies on the rise and fall of waves to turn an electrical generator, and Hawai'i is one of the spots on the globe with the most consistent wave power year-round.

There's no reason why a state that's surrounded by ocean energy should fall behind in efforts to tap that power.

The sooner we can abandon our dependence on fossil fuels, the better.