Maine should increase green energy choices
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Legislative insiders say that next week will be renewable energy week at the State House. The utilities committee is considering a number of bills that seek to improve energy efficiency and to increase the use of renewable resources. Meanwhile, environmental groups, public health agencies and energy suppliers are working together to provide a renewable energy alternative to consumers in Maine.
Considering that the United States is fighting a war in an oil-rich country, that the price of gasoline has skyrocketed and that federal heating aid is once again under attack, these efforts are of crucial importance. Yet their focus could easily be lost in the news about Iraq, tight budgets, health care reform and tax overhauls.
The Maine Green Power Connection is a cooperative effort of 25 organizations that seeks to educate electricity consumers about the link between their energy use, the state and the environment. Spearheaded by Maine Interfaith Power and Light, the coalition hopes to enroll 5,000 customers to purchase electricity generated by renewable resources in 2004. By the end of 2005, it hopes to enroll 60,000 customers, or about 5 percent of the Maine market, in such a program.
Right now, the Maine Green Power Connection's efforts are primarily educational. It wants to inform consumers about the environmental benefits of renewable resources and about how individuals and businesses can choose their energy sources.
However, unless Maine makes changes to some outdated state laws about electricity generation, much of that educational effort will go for naught.
One pending bill, sponsored by House Speaker Pat Colwell, D-Gardiner, would update Maine's rules about what counts as a renewable source of energy. It would also gradually require that an increasing percentage of the total energy produced in Maine would come from sources such as fuel cells, solar power, small hydroelectric dams, wind power and biomass facilities.
Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Treat, D-Farmingdale, focuses on increasing energy efficiency. It would provide more money for efficiency programs, promote green building standards whenever possible, create new efficiency standards for 10 appliances not covered by federal law and establish a clean energy fund to help develop a market for renewable energy and achieve generation goals to protect public health and the environment.
The United States can't drill its way to energy security. Conservation and efficiency are the best ways to reduce reliance on foreign energy sources. These bills deserve a vigorous debate in the Legislature — and such attention should help the Maine Green Power Connection with its efforts to let consumers choose the sources of their electricity.