Paula Merritt, “Weeds on the interstate” (BDN, Aug. 11) complains of the weeds beside the interstate. I have meant to write a letter complimenting the Maine highway department for having the good sense in limiting roadside mowing and the expense of labor, fuel, wear and tear on equipment.

With scarce highway funds, priorities change. Let’s use the money that is available for paving and filling those potholes.

The highway department might even consider letting the thousands of acres of grass grow into hay. Some enterprising individual might just want to cut and bale the hay. It could be sold to one of the biomass energy producing companies to make electricity. Is this an outlandish idea?

Brian Hanson

St. Albans