January 19, 2012
Letters, Maine

Energy coalition trying to impose wind mandate

The Portland Press Herald, www.pressherald.com 19 January 2012

The coalition Maine Citizens for Clean Energy is introducing a citizens’ referendum for November’s ballot.

I’m all for “clean energy.” Who isn’t?

I’m also for truth, justice and the American way.

Truth: Creating a mandate for 20 percent “new renewables” will cause the price of electricity to rise for every Maine citizen and every Maine business. Don’t be misled by the initiative’s wording – this is about wind. No other “new renewable” is poised to fulfill such a large mandate in such a short period of time.

Justice: A mandate is a law. If a law causes the common citizen economic, physical or emotional distress in order to give the advantage to a for-profit corporation, is that fair and ethical? Is it just?

The American way: Fairness. Freedom. A free market. America became great and powerful – and American citizens became world leaders – because of these tenets.

When we find our markets manipulated and regulated, when one sector of our economy is endowed with an advantage simply because it had more money and more influence over lawmakers and when our legislators are compelled to pass laws that satisfy their political donors instead of their everyday working constituents – then we discover we have deviated from the well-thought-out course our forefathers laid out for us when designing our Constitution.

This ballot initiative was designed for one purpose – to solidify the position of power that the wind industry has enjoyed since 2008, when it was given preferred status over all other energy sources, even those that are far less expensive and far more reliable.

I encourage Mainers to do independent research into this initiative and study Maine’s wind energy plan. Please consult unbiased sources and make an informed decision when you vote in November. This is extremely important, and the issue deserves our full attention.

Karen Bessey Pease, Lexington Township


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/19/energy-coalition-trying-to-impose-wind-mandate/