When the issue of renewable energy is debated, there are many concerns to address, from the rights of indigenous people to political involvement. Solar? Biofuels? Harness the ocean? Each "solution" carries costs and potential drawbacks. But with gas prices at one point nearing $5 a gallon, layoffs, inflation and an economy in downturn, momentum for a change in our energy policy is growing. Our soon-to-be president, Barack Obama, has suggested that building a nation less dependent on fossil fuels could both help the economy and reduce international pressures.

For Henk Rogers, entrepreneur and founder of the Blue Planet Foundation, the answer is information and action -and as a Hawai'i resident, his efforts are focused on Hawai'i. Rogers, who studied computer science at the University of Hawai'i, is probably best known for bringing Tetris to the world market. He has established several operations on Hawai'i, including Tetris Online, Blue Lava Technologies, Avatar Reality, and most recently, the Blue Planet Foundation.

Rogers' concern for the local environment encouraged him to build a team of environmental engineers, anthropologists, scientists, and environmental advocates for one purpose: "to change our world's energy culture," and move toward consensus on more sustainable policies.

In January, the Blue Planet Foundation brought notable players in politics, energy and the environment to O'ahu for an interactive seminar that was filmed for broadcast on public television. "Fueling Our Future" will be shown on Hawai'i Public Television tomorrow, and rebroadcast at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, followed by local public TV talk show "Island Insights."

Among the participants: environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Bullitt Foundation CEO and coordinator of the first Earth Day Denis Hayes; National Geographic explorer Elizabeth Kapu'uwailani Lindsey; and former U.S. Congressman Pete McCloskey of California.

The one-hour program focuses on the challenges of developing renewable energy. Moderator and special CNN correspondent Frank Sesno poses as the U.S. president, and asks theoretical questions of the politicians, business executives, environmentalists and scientists -for example, how to deal with political resistance? How to deal with the effects of overplanting of certain crops to produce biofuels?

At an advance screening of the show last week, at UH-Manoa's East-West Center, Rogers said, "This is one of the most important things to do for Hawai'i."

Rogers also noted that he counted Gov. Linda Lingle among the supporters of the Blue Planet Foundation's goals. "I'm here to support Blue Planet Hawai'i — to support the transformation in Hawai'i from foreign oil," Lingle said at the East-West Center.

"The ability to move to renewable energy isn't about technology or financial issues, it's a regulatory issue," the governor said. "It's about getting everyone involved on working on this. Connecting the dots, and letting them know the role they're playing in Hawai'i's future and the world's future."