KENNEBEC JOURNAL • June 2, 2021
Anyone who cares about the economy should be concerned about L.D. 163 and L.D. 1532, two bills in the Legislature that could cripple Maine’s energy and transportation infrastructure, increasing the cost of heating oil, fuel, gasoline and asphalt for Maine families and businesses. Pretty much every business organization in the state opposes one or both of these bills. Even the Maine DEP testified that L.D. 1532 would have “no measurable environmental benefit.” Instead of crippling our liquid fuel infrastructure with these bills, we should be increasing our capacity for low-carbon renewable biofuels, which can be produced right here in Maine. If we want to increase our use of green energy and meet our carbon goals then we need to enhance, not eliminate, our liquid fuel infrastructure. ~ Irv Smith, Maine Better Transportation Association, Eddington