Sustainable energy independence is "the issue of our time," according to Gary Trauner, Democratic candidate for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat.

"We need immediate action to reign in out-of-control gas prices," Trauner said during a speech to a group of supporters at the Ghost Town gas station in Mills. "Therefore, we must immediately use all tools at our disposal to bring down the price of gas."

Trauner's opponent, Republican Cynthia Lummis, said she agrees that domestic energy development is the answer to the energy crisis, but said she is the more likely candidate to bring such development to places like Wyoming.

"Domestic energy is key to our national security, our energy security and our economic security," Lummis said. "And the people of Wyoming and America need relief at the gas pump. Expanding responsible drilling and building more refineries and advancing nuclear energy and developing wind and alternative energy is critical to relieving high energy prices."

Nearly one-third of the oil produced daily in the United States - 1.6 million barrels - is shipped to foreign countries, Trauner said, leaving people in places like Wyoming with gas prices reaching $4 per gallon.

Instead of a "drill here, drill now" tactic, which Trauner said his opponents have embraced, he supports a "drill here, sell here now" approach to the energy crisis.

Wyoming drivers, Lummis said, pay a larger portion of their take-home pay for gasoline because they tend to drive further between work and home than in more urban areas.

Nationally, Democrats are opposed to policies that would lower current energy prices, she said, "so sending another Democrat to join the national Democrats in that agenda is not the answer, in my opinion."

Diverse energy sources are key to solving the country's "oil addiction," Trauner said.

Researching, developing and financially supporting alternative fuel sources like wind power, solar power, biofuels and hydrogen - in addition to utilizing a conservationist approach with appliances, vehicles and buildings - is imperative to ending the crisis in the United States, he said.

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com