Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn, a national security expert and retired commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, was in Ames on Thursday afternoon. McGinn took a tour at Ames’ PowerFilm, a public energy company in the solar sector.

McGinn sees a lot of potential for alternative energy sources in Iowa and one of the reasons is because of students.

“There’s a lot of great history here in Iowa for alternative green fuels in terms of ethanol and cellulose in the not too distant future,” McGinn said. “We’re in a great academic environment. Students can be a great example for the rest of the country and over generations learn on how not to just talk the talk, but walk the walk as well.”

One of McGinn’s goals that he wants to see happen is the diminishment of dependence on fossil fuels.

“Coal, gas and oil have helped us make the strong economy and world leader we are,” McGinn said. “We have come to recognize that there are costs at risks that are associated with our dependence on fossil fuel.”

McGinn said in order to be more energy efficient, there needs to be more economic value and gross domestic product out of every unit of electricity or liquid fuel for transportation.

“We need to start scaling up the kinds of sources of energy that are sustainable and don’t rely on extractive industries or cause environmental pollution,” McGinn said.

McGinn believes citizens will have a key role in what the energy future will be.

“Our choices as citizens at the ballot box all make a difference about do we really understand that we need to take control of our energy future,” McGinn said. “If we do and realize that this is a growing challenge economically, militarily and diplomatically, this is not going to be a Washington fix. We as Americans need to make wiser choices on how we get our energy and how we use it.”

McGinn went to Drake University later Thursday to lead a public discussion that dealt with national security, energy, environmental and economic security.