Energy prices, conflict in the Middle East and growing concern over global warming have jump-started a national conversation about U.S. energy policy. The public clamors for solutions, and support has never been deeper for increasing the power we get from renewable energy.

America is failing to realize its extraordinary potential to generate electricity from renewable sources like wind and biomass, especially in Indiana, where no strong incentives or standards exist, and where renewables contribute just 1.5 percent of Indiana's electricity.

Now is time for the country -- and Indiana -- to move toward a new energy future.

The United States was once an early leader in renewable energy technologies.

Today, in terms of the percentage that wind power contributes to total electric generation, the U.S. lags behind Germany, Denmark and Spain.

And these countries are reaping the harvest of strong policy: Germany's wind industry employs more than 40,000, Denmark another 20,000. Germany's wind industry is the nation's second-largest consumer of steel.

Northwest Indiana, led by U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and other regional leaders, could realize the same results for Northwest Indiana because of its great wind resources and vibrant steel industry.

Passing a renewable electricity standard for the nation would make that happen.

Twenty-two states have passed these standards, committing nearly half of our country's population to renewable energy targets as high as 25 percent by 2020.

By creating guaranteed markets for renewable energy, these policies have helped jump-start new statewide energy economies.. Spurred by Pennsylvania's clean energy standard, a Spanish wind turbine manufacturer has invested in four plants outside Philadelphia that assemble wind energy equipment. One thousand Americans will return to work at a former U.S. Steel mill outside of Fairless, Pa.

Developing our renewable energy resources will create jobs, save consumers money and bolster rural economies. A recent Union of Concerned Scientists study found a renewable electricity standard requiring 20 percent of electric generation from renewable energy by 2020 would create more than 180,000 jobs nationally, more than 5,000 in Indiana.

A 20 percent renewable electricity standard would decrease natural gas demand and lower natural gas prices by an average of 1.1 percent per year. Lower gas prices would translate into cost savings for the two-thirds of Indiana consumers that use natural gas for heating.

By shifting away from fossil fuels, the U.S. can diversify and secure its energy supply while reducing global warming. The Energy Information Administration indicates the same national standard would cut global warming pollution by the equivalent of taking 36 million cars off the road.

It is time for Congress to act on a renewable electricity standard. We hope that our leadership in the region will support a renewable electricity standard so Northwest Indiana, with its great wind resources and manufacturing sector, will be in the vanguard.

Jim Robinson is director of United Steelworkers District 7. Kim Ferraro and Walt Breitinger are regional coordinators of the Indiana Coalition for Renewable Energy and Economic Development. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer's and not necessarily that of The Times.