The Star's Sunday editorial, "Conserve, don't buy into LNG," urged conservation as a solution to the state's energy needs and suggested that "Californians get their heads out of the sand and find long-term solutions to the state's energy needs."

We agree.

California will need conservation and renewable energy to reach a sound and sustainable energy balance for our growing state. But to get there will take several years. And we'll need natural gas to get us there.

A yes vote by the State Lands Commission would allow for the rigorous permit process to continue and give Californians a better chance to move away from polluting coal and oil and toward the clean, renewable energy sources we need to sustain our economy and environment. The reality is, you can't solve the state's energy needs with renewable energy like wind and solar for at least 20 years.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein put it best in a speech on the Senate floor: "Let me be clear. I do not oppose liquefied natural gas sites in California. Liquefied natural gas is clean energy."

While we work toward that goal, Cabrillo Port brings a new, reliable source of clean natural gas into the state, which is exactly what California needs, according to both the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission.

One-hundred percent of the natural gas from Cabrillo Port will be directed to California, producing more than 10 percent of the state's daily natural-gas consumption.

Your editorial says we won't get cleaner air locally. That's false. Area marine vessels will be converted to cleaner-burning fuels, and more transit buses, cabs, private cars and fleet vehicles will be converted to natural gas, since a stable supply of reasonably priced natural gas will be continuously available.

You question our assertion that Cabrillo Port will meet the highest safety and environmental standards. We're sorry you didn't read the environmental impact statement/environmental impact report more carefully. Not only will we meet or beat those standards, we'll be required to, in order to get our operating permits.

This is the right time for the Cabrillo Port project. The project, in effect, cleans Ventura County's and California's air by more than is required by law.

The project will clean up dirty tugboats and use the best available technology to power its operations. It will also pay for first-of-its- kind marine monitoring and environmental protections. Cabrillo Port has committed to comply with every local, state and federal law applicable to it, including Ventura County's air rules. There has been no rock left unturned by this company in trying to meet every law, in spirit and in fact.

We agree with Sen. Feinstein's remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate: "Increased (energy) demand means we need new natural gas supplies, and liquefied natural gas is one of the options available to us. Let me be clear. I do not oppose liquefied natural gas sites in California. Liquefied natural gas is clean energy."

Renee Klimczak, of Houston, Texas, is president of BHP Billiton LNG International.