Brunswick Times Record: Staff Editorial

Here’s a bright side to our serious and deep economic recession: Both nationally and here in Maine, it’s spurring a sense of urgency about finally weaning ourselves from an addiction to oil. It also is encouraging a “green revolution” in the thinking of politicians, businesses and citizens alike — a realization that doing what’s right for our environment, in fact, is good for our economy.

Gov. John Baldacci’s visionary “Maine Energy Independence Act” — which calls for investments in renewable energy resources such as wind and tidal power, increased funding for weatherization and greater utilization of biomass electricity generation — is but one key step in the green revolution that’s gaining momentum in our state. Another is the “Green Jobs, Green Savings” legislation, LD 1181, sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, with 18 co-sponsors in the Maine Senate and 77 co-sponsors in the Maine House.

The bill, authored by Opportunity Maine, was among several pieces of legislation related to Maine’s energy security and independence reviewed Wednesday by the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Energy Future.

In explaining the purposes of the bill, Berry correctly underscores the leadership role state government must play if Maine’s economy is to become more energy-efficient and less prone to crises brought on by the volatility of oil prices.

“To make our economy more efficient, we must provide adequate, stable long-term funding and strong accountable oversight,” Berry said in a release announcing Wednesday’s public hearing for his bill. “Businesses, investors, future energy workers and homeowners will jump to it if they see a clear 10-year commitment from the state, with compelling incentives and standards.”

Specifically, LD 1181 would commit our state to making industrial facilities, commercial and residential buildings 30 percent more energy efficient within 10 years. Such “non-transportation” energy use accounts for 50 percent of all of Maine’s energy use — in dollars and cents, $1.5 billion of the $3 billion annually spent.

The “Green Jobs” bill would provide for free energy audits to all Maine homes; professional weatherization grants, financing and technical assistance; set “green” energy standards for new buildings and appliances; and provide specialized assistance to industrial, commercial and low-income sectors.

Money spent on improving energy efficiency has a two-fold benefit: 1.) It creates jobs for Mainers who will install the insulation, weatherize drafty older homes and help businesses use less energy by installing smart lighting, occupancy sensors and thermostats that optimize energy usage; 2.) It’s the quickest and most lucrative way to reduce CO2 emissions and our consumption of coal- and oil-powered energy.

Skeptical? Consider, then, the three-year $20 million investment to improve energy efficiency made by BP, the largest oil and gas producer and one of the largest gasoline retailers in the United States. The company ended up saving $650 million in fuel costs.

If an oil company finds wisdom — and profit — in investing in energy efficiency, that tells us something: We should, too.