Recent contributors to the Sun Journal have, for the most part, failed to grasp the opportunity the state of Maine has to lead in the drive to reduce dependence on foreign oil, participate in the economic recovery effort, or help prevent global warming.

I speak of Maine’s opportunity to become a major source of future energy. Maine’s mountaintops and coastlines are a natural resource for wind power. It may be as Burton Weymouth said in his letter to the editor (Jan. 10), that Maine Land Use Regulation Commission law has restrictions on building above 2,700 feet.

That does not seem to bother the construction of ski area lift towers or warming huts and restaurants above that altitude. The ski trails (that I love) could more rightly be condemned for being ugly slashes in a pristine environment.

The energy resource potential of Maine could be harnessed to feed much of the East Coast. It could provide jobs to Maine citizens. It could replace the fast-failing paper industry. It could be a tax resource to reduce the budget shortfall.

Most of all, it could could be a big part of President-elect Barack Obama’s $1 trillion stimulus plan.

It’s time Maine got to the head of the line and became a prime energy source. Gov. Baldacci, Sens. Snowe and Collins, Reps. Michaud and Pingree, and, yes, the Sun Journal, should join in this effort to revive Maine with wind power.

Bill Ellis, Rangeley