BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 9, 2022
There is a strong case for taking a long view to preserve the country’s strategic petroleum reserve for significant emergencies, not just to lower prices, which are impacted by global factors well beyond the control of the United States. Jeff Eshelman, CEO of the Independent Petroleum Association, summed up the problem: “The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is meant to protect consumers against emergency supply disruptions, not politicians during an election year.” Phil Coupe, the co-founder of ReVision Energy, a solar company located in South Portland, made a persuasive case for maintaining, even increasing, our strategic reserves of fossil fuels while developing alternative fuels for our everyday uses. Both see maintaining our reserves of oil and gas as a national security issue. The U.S. military is taking steps to make itself less dependent on fossil fuels. It is time for the rest of us to pay attention. ~ Susan Young, Bangor Daily News opinion editor