“Skowhegan voters OK TIF” read the Sentinel’s headline on Feb. 15. The TIF (tax increment financing) is a tax break for Kennebec Valley Gas Co.

So I thought, “There goes another victory for Kennebec Valley Gas in its bid to beat out the town of Madison in providing natural gas from Richmond to Madison.”

Then it dawned on me. Wasn’t it KVGC’s primary argument through scare tactics that running a natural gas line was such a great risk that Madison residents might lose their homes if the gas line failed?

Regarding recent reports from the towns along the way it looks like nearly all of the towns want to purchase the gas so badly, they are willing to give up substantial tax revenues just to have the gas line made available to them. And all this during hard times when the towns could use the extra tax revenues the most.

It certainly looks like a sure winner to me, no matter who runs the natural gas line. It would be a shame that the only thing Madison residents feared was success.

To make the deal of Madison running the gas line even sweeter is the fact that if Madison indeed builds the line, Madison Electric could buy the gas at such a low rate that it could produce electricity so cheap that all Madison Electric customers could heat their homes for less with electricity than with oil or gas. Furthermore, expensive conversions wouldn’t be necessary.

I do urge all citizens to attend Wednesday’s public hearing in regards to the gas line. I also urge all to vote on the issue on March 13. Just remember, some of our worst decisions are made when we have fear in our hearts.

Peter P. Sirois

Madison

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