It’s time we got serious about Maine’s energy future. I’m hopeful that the actions taken and proposed by several Mainers, including our congressional delegation and local representatives, will result in a long-range energy plan for our beleaguered state. Several recent events give me hope.

On Nov. 6, Wiscasset voters spoke clearly when they turned down a proposed coal plant at the Maine Yankee site despite the fact that they had a reappraisal and significant tax increase this year all-the-while knowing that the coal plant would have reduced property taxes – what courage! Technically, Wiscasset voters rejected the plant on height restrictions but a closer look at the vote revealed that they turned it down on way-of-life grounds believing that burning coal, no matter how cleverly packaged, contributes to global warming.

Also, state Rep. Robert Walker and state Sen. John Martin are both proposing legislation to deal with Maine’s energy future. Both proposals include all energy options including nuclear power. Recent statements by our congressional delegation apparently include a new look at nuclear power.

Maine’s energy plan must recognize several givens. First, global warming is real, caused primarily by burning fossil fuels – oil, coal and gas. Each will affect Maine negatively in the future in ways that are becoming clear every day.

Second, worldwide supplies of oil and natural gas are limited and will likely peak in the near future (some say supplies have already peaked) and begin to run down causing the price of oil to skyrocket. Except for wood, Maine is at the end of all fossil fuel pipelines. This means all of us will pay a very high cost to heat our homes, drive our cars and light our homes; a serious setback for Maine’s economy.

Third, as much as we all love renewables – solar, wind, wood, biomass and the ever elusive tidal power – they will never supply much more than 10 percent to 15 percent of Maine’s energy needs. Many urban Mainers can’t site solar panels or burn wood, and many rural Mainers don’t want their pristine hillsides denuded by windmills. Of course we should pursue renewables but we also must recognize their limitations.

Fourth, a decade or so ago, under state-imposed deregulation, Central Maine Power was required to sell its generation plants. Florida Power and Light bought the CMP plants and effectively establishes the rates we pay for electricity generation today. Remember, Maine’s total population is less than many Florida cities and is at the end of the FPL pipeline. Don’t expect FPL to solve Maine’s energy problems.

Fifth, two decades ago very vocal opponents of nuclear power were successful in increasing the cost of the Seabrook nuclear station in Seabrook, N.H., to the point where it became so expensive when it came on line that it was barely competitive with other sources of electricity. As we reconsider nuclear power, opponents must be required to do the math on all alternatives they propose, keeping in mind diminishing supplies of world oil and gas, global warming and the cost of energy to all Mainers.

Sixth, France is 70 percent nuclear. The U.S. is 20 percent. Despite what critics claim, we both have exemplary safety records. Nuclear waste storage and reactor rod reprocessing have long been the big stumbling blocks for reconsideration of nuclear power: Nuclear waste can remain radioactive for thousands of years and certain reactor rod reprocessing techniques can produce weapons grade material. In response, President Jimmy Carter stopped all reactor rod reprocessing in the United States in an effort to limit the possibility of nuclear weapons proliferation. Since President Carter’s order in 1979, reactor rod reprocessing technology, implemented by France and others, has proven to significantly mitigate the long-term storage problems and the potential for producing weapons grade material.

It’s time Maine reconsidered nuclear power: it would go a long way to securing Maine’s energy future as oil and gas prices rise. Maine should take the lead and permit a site for a modern, technically advanced nuclear power plant, preferably at the Maine Yankee site in Wiscasset. Once a site is secure, Maine should then request proposals from various private entities to build and operate the plant. Unless Maine takes the lead it’s unlikely FPL (or any other generation company serving Maine) will propose a nuclear plant in Maine. Instead they will continue to send us high-priced fossil fuel-generated electricity, leaving Maine’s energy future and economy in doubt.

Richard de Grasse is a professional electrical engineer, former Vermont Public Service Board commissioner and founder and former president of Control Electric Corp. He lives in Islesboro.