Whether you are homeowner or a business owner in Maine, you feel the pain of the high cost of energy during the long winter. Eighty percent of homes are dependent on fuel oil compared to just 7 percent of all U.S. households. Business leaders across the state identify the high cost of energy as a top barrier to operating here, according to a Chamber of Commerce survey released this month.

Maine’s dependence on petroleum drains almost $5 billion a year from the state economy.

That’s why the state Legislature worked hard during the past two years to pass legislation that would help reduce energy costs and create a long-term strategy to build a clean, renewable and locally-sourced energy industry.

Reducing our reliance on foreign oil and laying the groundwork for energy independence has been a priority for the entire Legislature. With this shared vision and a lot of hard work, the Utilities and Energy Committee earned the distinction of voting every bill in 2010 with a unanimous vote, building strong bipartisan support for sensible policy.

The committee passed over a dozen new laws to support energy efficiency and home weatherization, and consolidated several energy conservation programs in different agencies into the Efficiency Maine Trust, a single program run by an independent board of directors.

Mainers have already seen the results.

Business owners have told us that Efficiency Maine’s investments in conservation and weatherization programs have created hundreds of local jobs. A company testing new tidal energy technology has already created new jobs in Washington County and expects to generate more energy for Maine consumers sooner than originally projected. The tidal turbine used for that project was manufactured in Bath using local composites manufacturers.

Economists predict that Maine’s emerging green economy could create 1,500 to 2,500 more new jobs and grow the state’s gross domestic product by $170 million to $260 million per year in the manufacturing, construction, engineering and management sectors. Data show that from 2004 to 2009, each dollar invested in Efficiency Maine programs returned $2.99 in net economic benefits — a very favorable return on our investment.

The Legislature also passed laws to encourage significant private investment in energy conservation by families and businesses, including rebates, tax credits and financing opportunities for upgrading energy systems. And, lawmakers established a “smart grid” policy for the state, which will allow utilities, entrepreneurs and consumers to monitor energy use across the grid, and create new technologies for energy delivery that will improve efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower costs.

In 2009, the Legislature set aggressive goals to cut Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels: to weatherize all Maine homes and half of Maine businesses and to significantly cut the use of electricity use, natural gas and heating fuels in the next 20 years. In 2009, 929 businesses, with the help of 525 approved trade allies, completed 1,438 energy-efficiency projects — a 53 percent increase from the previous year. As a result, Maine businesses avoided $49 million in electrical costs.

The Utilities and Energy Committee has balanced the needs of Maine energy consumers with the economic opportunities for renewable energy producers. These are very challenging policy issues, and I look forward to the progress Maine can make year after year with a steadfast effort.

Rep. David Van Wie serves House District 105, representing Durham, New Gloucester and part of Lisbon.

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