We agree that Maine needs to diversify its energy portfolio (“Our View: Stalled gas pipeline shows need for energy diversity,” Aug. 25). In the context of a high-stakes investment like the proposed New England Governors’ initiative, it is important to evaluate all of the energy supply options for New England states.
Energy infrastructure is long-lived – consumers will be paying for the pipeline for years, while taking on the risk that cheaper and cleaner energy options could soon make this investment seem like an unaffordable mortgage. Decisions made today will have cost and emissions implications for years in the future.
We cannot assume natural gas costs will remain at historically low levels. Increasing export opportunities to Europe and Japan (where prices are three and five times higher, respectively) will inevitably increase domestic prices and erode the cost appeal of expanding pipelines. Yet in their analyses, Maine and other states did not include consideration of future higher gas prices.
Gas burns cleaner than coal and oil, but it is still a fossil fuel. It won’t reduce carbon emissions at the pace of cleaner alternatives like energy efficiency or renewables.
There are numerous energy options that can reduce energy costs and benefit Maine consumers, yet are lower in cost and cleaner than a billion-dollar pipeline. For true diversification of Maine’s energy system, these options must not be ignored.
By stepping away from the governors’ initiative, Massachusetts has demonstrated its commitment to evaluate diverse energy resources instead of putting all its eggs in the pipeline-expansion basket.
Through this evaluation, Massachusetts’ approach could find better ways to meet the region’s energy, consumer and greenhouse-gas-reduction goals while minimizing the risk of deepening our dependence on a single fuel.
Maine and other states should step back to assess the full energy and economic picture before making big decisions on behalf of consumers.
Daniel L. Sosland
president, ENE
Rockport
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