I am responding to the Sun Journal editorial (“Pellet-fueled problem,” July 16) where it is suggested that private interests are dictating the work of the governor’s Wood to Energy Task Force. As a member of the diverse 28-person Task Force, I strongly disagree with that assertion.

We have been meeting since January at the request of the governor to provide him with recommendations for how woodburning can help Maine address the crisis of high heating costs from oil. We will also suggest long-term strategies to move Maine away from being the most heating oil dependent state in the nation.

The governor wisely chose a task force leader with in-depth knowledge of wood-to-energy issues, Les Otten, a director of Maine Energy Systems, a wood pellet furnace company. During meetings of the task force, Otten clearly has disclosed his business involvement as well as that of his other partners. It has not been a secret to any of us on the task force or in the audience. It has certainly not deterred any member from expressing their opinion or from us doing our job.

Our report will be completed later this month. It will be a task force report, not a Les Otten or Maine Energy Systems report. To suggest otherwise is an insult to the rest of us on the task force.

I have known Otten for more than 20 years. He is a person with integrity. He has brought his intelligence and knowledge to the task force. He has also been a strong voice for his opinions. But there are lots of strong opinions on the task force, so to suggest his is dominant is just plain wrong. The task force is composed of government representatives, legislators, educators, environmental and public health organizations, bankers, large and small landowners and representatives from the Maine forest products industry.

This is, clearly, not a group that is easily manipulated.

I agree with the editorial’s statement that Maine needs private and public leaders with experience, interest and enthusiasm to help the state through this impending energy crisis. That is exactly the kind of group the governor has created. Let’s not get side-tracked by the non-issue of conflict of interest. We have a heating crisis on our doorstep. It is time to solve some very real problems facing Maine people.

I believe that the findings of the task force will be a part of that solution.

Edward Miller, executive director

American Lung Association of Maine, Augusta