AUGUSTA
Gov. John Baldacci introduced an energy plan Wednesday that would
increase Maine's dependence on fuel sources like wind and hydro power,
help local governments cut fuel costs and take other steps to stabilize
prices and curb reliance on foreign oil.
Keeping
a pledge he made in his State of the State address last month to tackle
energy issues, Baldacci said Maine should cut the tax on diesel fuels
containing biodiesel and adopt energy standards for all appliances that
do not have them now.
He called for long-term energy contracts that
could control price increases, diversify the mix of energy sources and
encourage efficiency and conservation.
"Electric
rates have not come down" since the Legislature restructured the
electricity industry in 1997, Baldacci said at a State House news
conference. "Maine has turned over control of our energy future to
unregulated private corporations and to decision makers in Washington
who are not sensitive to the electric bills paid by Maine people and
businesses."
Noting
that 60 percent of Maine's electricity comes from natural gas, Baldacci
said that is "a risky position to be in" and is "poor energy policy,
especially in a state with abundant renewable energy resources like
wind, water, wood and tidal power."
Maine
has "an enormous wind supply that's generated outside of Augusta," in
addition to the hot air produced at the State House, he joked.
Baldacci
did not mention the agreement that he signed with Citgo Petroleum CEO
Felix Rodriguez last month to give giving poor Mainers at least $100
million worth of heating oil this winter. The Venezuelan government
owns Citgo and the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, is a vocal
critic of American capitalism who has accused President Bush of
plotting to kill him. The Bush administration sees Chavez as a
demagogue.
The
governor said he will create a task force to look into whether Maine
should remain in regional groups, including the New England Power Pool,
that regulate the electricity supply. The Legislature is preparing to
consider a separate bill filed by Rep. John Brautigam, D-Falmouth, to
authorize the Public Utilities Commission to withdraw Maine from the
regional compact.
Critics
suggest that NEPOOL and a related organization known as ISO New England
may be pursuing regional policies that will hurt Maine consumers, such
as construction of power plants in southern New England that Maine will
have to help subsidize. Baldacci said he does not know whether such
complaints are valid but he wants the state to find out.
"I do not want Maine consumers and businesses paying the freight for the rest of New England," he said.
Reaction
to the governor's plan was generally muted on Wednesday, in large part
because the legislation he is proposing has yet to be made public. That
left interested groups waiting until the bill is printed and the
details become clear. "This is really complicated stuff," said Chris
Hall of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. "We've got to see what the
language is" in the legislation.
David
Wilby of the Independent Energy Producers of Maine took a similar view,
saying his group supports the goal of increasing the state's use of
renewable energy but will have to study the legislation before passing
judgment on it.
"We
don't want to see requirements that will make the mix of energy sources
more expensive," said John Williams of the Maine Pulp and Paper
Association. But Williams said it is too soon to tell whether
Baldacci's proposals would have that effect.
State Public Advocate Stephen Ward, who represents consumers on energy issues, praised Baldacci's efforts.
Ward
said Baldacci's call for long-term energy contracts could help
diversify the supply, increase the demand for wind, biomass and tidal
power, and encourage suppliers to offer efficient light bulbs,
water-heater wraps and other energy-saving devices.
Matthew
Davis of Environment Maine, a group that follows energy issues, said
Baldacci's push for renewable energy "is the right one to make."
Davis
praised the proposed expansion of energy standards to include more
appliances, but he also said the governor's plan would be stronger if
it included more money to support programs that promote energy
efficiency.
