North Carolina residents are rightly exhorted, by public officials as well as environmental groups, to do everything we can to conserve energy — from using more efficient light bulbs, to buying energy-wise appliances to exploring alternative energy sources such as biofuels and solar power. Energy companies themselves are increasingly recognizing the importance of conservation, with Duke Energy recently proposing a new strategy that would increase conservation measures among customers to help reduce the need for new coal-fired plants.

So in the current climate of energy conservation — and amid concerns about the impact of climate change on North Carolina, how much sense does it make to virtually dismantle the N.C. State Energy Office? This is the office that has been one of the leading advocates for energy conservation in North Carolina. It doesn't simply advocate energy conservation, however. The office, under the direction of Larry Shirley, has taken a hands-on role in helping government, industry and schools reduce their energy consumption, and benefit by lowering their utility bills. Here's one example of the office's successful intervention: It launched the Utility Savings Initiative for State Agencies, which saved the state more than $1 million in less than two years simply by providing energy audits to state facilities and correcting bill errors. Overall, energy officials say, State Energy Office programs have saved industry $170 million and state government $62 million over the past 15 years.

Yet now, a proposal within the N.C. Senate's budget plan would dismantle the 16-person office, splitting its functions between two other agencies. Supporters of the move argue that the reorganization would reduce overlap between the Energy Office and other state agencies. They also contend that the loss of some federal grants means that the office's budget is going to take a hit, although other federal grant monies apparently are still available.

By all means, let's reduce waste and make government as efficient as possible. But the State Energy Office has proved a smart investment over the years. It has helped numerous agencies and businesses reduce their energy consumption, while proving independent, long-range guidance on conservation and alternative energy issues. With a growing population placing ever-greater demands on the energy grid, saving energy and developing alternative energy sources will be even more important in the future. Given the critical role of energy issues in North Carolina, state officials should be looking for ways to make the Energy Office's work more visible and accessible to the public, not trying to pull the plug on it.