I’m a fiscal conservative. I care about how money is spent. I invest where it makes sense for the long term, and am pleased when I can save money in the short term. I am particularly concerned about the costs of climate change.

Deloitte estimated the gain to the global economy from decarbonizing to be $43 trillion. If we do nothing, the cost is $178 trillion. Decarbonizing the economy, including transportation and the heating and cooling of buildings, is a huge business opportunity we can’t afford to miss. Especially so for Maine with its offshore wind potential, as well as the many solar farms being created now, and the state’s energy storage goals.

Furthermore, Maine and New England have no natural stores of coal, oil or natural gas. Instead we send our money to other states and countries to get that stuff here to meet our energy needs. I concur with your June 21 editorial that for the benefit of all, we should proceed towards clean local energy as rapidly as possible, and arrange re-training of our oil dealer neighbors so that they can join in the public benefit of local, lower-cost energy sources.

Thanks for all you do covering everything in the news.

 

Peter Garrett, Ph.D., Earth Science 

Citizens Climate Lobby

Winslow

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