Energy issues are now a hot topic not just in the presidential race but in political contests way down the ballot in much of the country. Even in some of the state and local races I’m tracking in my own North Carolina, candidates are devoting significant attention to talking about alternative fuels, “renewable” sources of electricity generation, fuel oil, grid-reliability concerns, and related subjects.

Conservatives should welcome the opportunity to elevate energy as an election issue. The best strategy to follow isn’t dissimilar from using the tax issue to distinguish candidates and as a proxy for broader concerns about government size and intrusiveness. Put it to the voters clearly: My opponent wants to raise your electric bill and your gas prices, with higher taxes, more regulations, and more wasteful subsidies to corrupt special-interest groups. I will stop him, and work to cut your electric bill and your gas prices.

The Empire Center for New York State Policy, a project of the Manhattan Institute, has fired an opening salvo in the energy-policy debate in NY. Let’s see more of it.