Opinion: Reducing Maine’s reliance on natural gas will benefit climate, consumers

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 8, 2024

Methane gas (deceptively marketed as “natural” gas by fossil fuel companies) has slowly gained ground over the past 20 years as the fossil fuel industry sold this gas as a cleaner alternative to heating oil. This was a part of a decadeslong effort to mislead consumers. As my generation and others close in age look ahead to buying a home, the cost of maintaining methane gas pipeline infrastructure is one thing we don’t need. New gas pipes saddle existing gas customers with higher bills to pay for infrastructure that doesn’t have a place in our clean-energy future. L.D. 2077 asks gas regulators to scrutinize spending on the gas system to better protect gas customers from unending rate hikes. ~ Megan Sauberlich, Maine Youth Action and University of Maine student