SAVING ENERGY

Modest steps in Maine such as encouraging increased use of biofuels and requiring more energy-efficient appliances won’t do much to slow U.S. oil imports from the Middle East. But, given the lack of national policies to reduce oil and gas use, states have no choice but to enact their own rules, slowly pushing the federal government to do the same.

Gov. John Baldacci’s energy policy, outlined last week, is another step in that direction. Although details of his bill have yet to be revealed, it focuses on conservation, efficiency and renewable energy. The first two, where the largest immediate gains can be made, were not mentioned by the president in his call for decreased consumption of imported oil.

The president’s plan calls for a 22 percent increase in clean energy research at the Department of Energy. While researching zero-emissions coal-fired power plants and the production of ethanol from switch grass may be worthwhile endeavors, there are more immediate ways to reduce oil consumption.

One is to use oil, and other fuels, more efficiently. To do this, the governor is advocating passage of minimum energy efficiency standards for household and commercial appliances. Last year, a bill that would have required that 19 products, ranging from ceiling fans to commercial washers, meet minimize efficiency standards, died in the Legislature. Switching to these appliances would save Maine residents

a minimum of $16 million a year in energy costs by 2010, supporters said.

Rather than studying ethanol, the governor would encourage its production through a tax break. Motor fuels that contain at least 2 percent biodiesel by volume would be taxed at 20 cents a gallon, an 8 cent-a-gallon reduction.

The other way to use less oil is by turning to other energy sources. The governor’s plan calls for a 10 percent increase in renewable power resources in Maine by 2017. The state has long generated more than 30 percent of its power from hydroelectric projects, biomass plants and municipal waste-to-energy facilities. Past efforts to boost the renewable portfolio standard have failed.

Faced with much higher oil, gas and heating oil prices this year, lawmakers should see the value of slowly boosting the amount of energy produced in Maine from new technologies such as solar arrays, fuel cells, wind installations and other renewable sources. The long timetable allows new, alternative energy sources to be generated slowly and cost effectively.

The governor’s plan would also support renewable power development by permitting the Public Utilities Commission to seek long-term contracts with renewable power producers. This would give companies the upfront capital and assurances they need to invest in wind farms or other renewable power projects. The bill also allows the PUC to encourage industrial and commercial users, that now have short-term contracts and face huge price increases because they are not covered by the standard offer rate plan, to join together to sign long-term contracts. By aggregating their power needs, they can likely negotiate a lower price.

The governor has also convened a task force to review the advantages and disadvantages of Maine withdrawing from the New England Power Pool.

By taking the steps proposed by the governor, Maine will have more control over its energy usage and needs, will reduce fossil fuel consumption and lessen pollution.