The guest column (Nov. 11) “Twilight comes to the age of petroleum” by Rep. Bob Walker, R-Lincolnville, deserves comment.

I support his thoughts about nuclear energy. We need to include nuclear in the overall power grid in Maine. Maine Yankee used to produce 870 megawatts of power, or one-half of Maine’s demand. That was replaced by natural gas.

I currently serve on the governor’s task force for wind power, which will produce a report by year’s end. Folks, we need to get away from our dependence on natural gas or oil for electric energy production. Let’s include coal, too. It is dirty and harms the environment, land and air. For more information, read the book “Big Coal” by Jeff Goodell.

We need to have a mix of renewable power sources, including hydro, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and tidal.

Nuclear power has come a long way in recent years as regards safe use. Let’s not rule it out as a part of our energy mix.

Sen. Walter Gooley, R-Farmington