Like Vice President Al Gore’s visit to Maine following the ice storm of 1998, Energy Secretary Bill Richardson’s visit last week was a waste of taxpayers’ money. Granted he freed up $6.4 million to the fuel subsidy, but it is not the solution to the problem of the excessive cost of a gallon of fuel oil, gasoline and diesel.

We need more product to bring down the price of these products and if Richardson and President Clinton would authorize the release of oil reserves it would go a long way toward solving the problem and much more rapidly, too. By the time that people eligible for fuel assistance apply and are approved it will be spring and their need will no longer be a problem. William P. Robertson, III Franklin

When is the White House going to recognize that the price of home heating oil, kerosene and diesel oil are twice what they were last winter? But more importantly, when are they going to do something about it?

Sen. Susan Collins’ suggestion of using the Strategic Oil Reserve to fight OPEC’s hold over the oil supply in the northeast should be given a chance. This use of the reserve to combat high oil prices has been successfully implemented in the past and should be again. The president and his energy secretary have failed to demonstrate any resolve to prevent the OPEC countries from controlling the economy of the United States. If the president can’t hear Sen. Collins’ call for help, maybe he should try listening to the ones she is trying to help: the families, truckers, farmers and businesses that have been devastated by high oil prices and his failure to act. Craig Green Presque Isle