As an owner of a 150-year-old manufacturing company in Eddington, I have seen firsthand the impact legislation can have on my business and the well-being of my customers.

Bills in the Legislature to limit the use, the sale and the installation of wood boilers in Maine have a detrimental impact on doing business. It strikes me that this approach does not adequately consider the facts in determining what are good policies for Maine businesses and consumers. We as a company have saved thousands of dollars in electrical and oil costs over the 15-year period of using our outdoor water stove.

Outdoor wood boilers use renewable resources which lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil. In a time when gas and oil prices are at an all-time high, the collective owners of wood boilers in Maine could potentially save 3 million gallons of oil in one year. We don’t need legislation that will make it more difficult for homeowners to pay their heating bills or save our environment.

Our state motto is “Dirigo” which means “I lead.” Maybe we should stick to our motto and lead by not over-regulating wood-burning furnaces that are safe, cost-effective and environmentally a safe alternative for home heating needs.

Rodney Buswell Sr.

Eddington