The Bush energy bill recently passed through the House and will soon be taken up by the Senate. The president has insisted that this bill will do nothing to lower energy costs, yet he still supports $88 billion subsidies for multinational energy corporations.

Furthermore, this same bill has been proposed three times, and it has been denied passage by the Republican-controlled Senate. It focuses on creating more coal power plants, more nuclear plants, more drilling in sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and fewer environmental and health safeguards. Hopefully, Sens. Collins and Snowe will stand up for Maine against this bill.

Conversely, Gov. Baldacci and the Legislature have worked tirelessly to craft a more sustainable energy policy which invests in Maine, lowers energy costs and decreases our dependence on foreign oil.

Rep. Eberle (D-So. Portland) has offered legislation (L.D. 1435) to set baseline efficiency standards for 18 household and commercial products, such as torchiere lamps, commercial ice makers and power adapters, which would cut energy use by 164,000 megawatt/hours and consumer bills by $16 million in 2010.

Considering we generate most of our electricity (about 47 percent) and heat our water and our homes using fossil fuels, these efficiency standards will also help reduce our reliance on oil.

This bill recently passed out of committee and will soon be taken up by the full Legislature. Hopefully the Legislature will continue to support a sensible energy policy and pass this bill.

Arden Manning, Portland

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