The article, “Maine average gas price continues to fall,” was on the front page on Oct. 10.

It’s a sign of the times when a drop in gas prices makes front-page news, as Maine families and businesses start to brace themselves for this winter’s heating bills.

Our addiction not only threatens our pocketbooks and economic recovery, but it also takes a tremendous toll on our environment, with oil the leading source of our most intractable environmental problems, including air and water pollution and global warming.

Fortunately, the Obama administration is developing new fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks through 2025 that will require new vehicles to average 54.5 miles per gallon. These standards, if finalized without loopholes, will cut gasoline use in Maine by 97 million gallons, saving Mainers more than $329 at the gas pump annually by 2030 and cutting pollution.

For the sake of our economy and environment, these new rules should be as strong as possible to start weaning Maine and our nation off oil.

Chris Gallagher, Buxton