An energy crisis is not just looming over Hawai'i: It's upon us. That point is being hammered home by David Murdock, a man of considerable energy himself, and financial power as well.

Murdock owns Castle & Cooke and most of Lana'i, where a 400-megawatt windfarm is under development and in need of permits.

Too many permits, Murdock believes, and approvals that take too long. In the expected five to seven years it will take to get the permits, rising fuel prices will inflate the costs of its completion.

The pace needs to be sped up, he said — and he's right. Fuel costs are rising so fast that business-as-usual timetables for approving alternative-energy projects are becoming increasingly impractical.

Castle & Cooke has forged an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy and Maui Electric Co. to apply federal funds and cooperation in getting Lana'i off fossil fuels and channeling much of its green energy toward O'ahu.

But looking beyond the Lana'i pilot project, Murdock sees businesses in peril statewide and wants the governor and other leaders to recognize that our enslavement to fossil fuels could bankrupt even more. Because legislation passed this session does not set a firm timetable for permit approvals, he said, the governor should declare a state of emergency to finish renewable energy projects faster.

State leaders need to face the current reality and take action. Are we in dire straits, due to the ripple effect of energy costs? Yes. Are we in need of leadership to give Hawai'i more control of its energy future? Absolutely.

They must also answer harder questions: What are the benchmarks — beyond completing the current windfarm and solar projects — that must be met for the "emergency" to be lifted?

The toughest question, however, demands an answer from the state Capitol:

So, governor and lawmakers, what is your plan?