I agree with John Mishler’s op-ed concluding that Pine Tree Power has too many unknown factors to guarantee lower electricity costs.

What would result in lower costs would be more intelligent state and federal energy policy. Maine should be able to benefit from America’s supply of cheap natural gas delivered efficiently by pipeline from Pennsylvania and other low-cost production areas to our factories and homes and utilities. Instead we burn more carbon intensive oil for heat and much of the gas we do have comes from higher cost and more carbon-intensive imports of liquified natural gas. Maine imports a quarter of its electricity. The state should be looking again at clean nuclear power.  With intelligent regulation protocols and restraint on unreasonable litigation nuclear power can be both safe and cost effective.

Maine should be producing its own electricity at costs competitive with the rest of the country. Right now it is among the highest cost states and that hurts everyone.

David L. Lucht

Oakland