Oct. 28--Contrary to the popular notion that the United States and the world are facing an energy shortage, Andy Hannah believes that the planet's resources offer enough potential energy -- if we can just figure out how to harness it.

"The puzzle isn't where it's going to come from. The puzzle is how do we make it work together, and how do we deliver it economically to the people who need it," Mr. Hannah said. "How do wind and solar and natural gas plants work together?"

Mr. Hannah, the CEO of Plextronics, a Harmar-based manufacturer of solar cells, has pulled together a group of energy CEOs to wrestle with that question.

The U.S. Center for Energy Leadership consists of Mr. Hannah and five others: Aris Candris of Westinghouse Electric Co., Paul Evanson of Allegheny Energy, Murry S. Gerber of EQT Corp., J. Brett Harvey of Consol Energy and Keith Schaefer of BPL Global.

Their mission: to help create "a stable energy environment" for the world.

Mr. Hannah decided to form the group after reflecting on the distinctiveness of Pittsburgh as an energy center.

"I was struck by the critical mass that we have in Pittsburgh in terms of the companies and the research and the resources around the diversification of energy," he said. That critical mass includes coal companies, natural gas companies, electricity companies, solar companies and a big manufacturer of nuclear power plants.

The "stable energy environment" that the group seeks will have three characteristics: energy independence, stable energy pricing and a portfolio approach to meeting increasing energy needs.

Mr. Hannah said that for his members, "energy independence" means "you're not reliant on any one energy source or any one country or any one supplier" for energy.

"There is independence in that you have a choice," he said.

He said it also implies an abundance of energy, an abundance that can lead to stable energy pricing.

Mr. Hannah acknowledged that the idea of abundant energy goes contrary to much of current discussion, which assumes a lack, or at least a pending lack, of resources. While not blind to increasing demand -- he cited an estimate that in 40 years we will need three to four times as much energy as we do now -- he also said that in his view, there is enough energy to meet the demand.

"There is no doubt that the potential for the energy that we need is available," he said. "The amount of power potential coming from the sun ...