A giveaway to pipeline interests and the conscious decision by Augusta to spit rejection into Statoil’s face don’t make sense. A long-term strategic plan for powering sustainable living in Maine needs to be developed.

Natural gas is normally delivered via urban gas lines installed long ago. New lines would need to be installed under all roads to bring natural gas to businesses and homes, which isn’t economically feasible due to the geological nature of our state.

The $1.5 billion “investment” in this LNG pipe dream is only a down payment. Who will want gas lines? Remember when Harpswell rejected converting the old Brunswick Naval Air Station fuel depot into a liquefied natural gas terminal (the safest, least invasive manner of delivery) in exchange for never again having to pay property taxes? NIMBY!

The article “U.N. panel’s climate report holds stark warnings, call to action in warming report” (Nov. 3) informs readers that the world must drastically reduce use of carbon-based energy soon to deal with climate-change consequences caused by today’s fossil fuel abuse. Natural gas produces fewer greenhouse gases, but it’s still a fossil fuel that must be replaced soon, if Earth is to remain habitable.

Common sense suggests that LNG be delivered to Maine via LNG ship and distributed like liquefied petroleum gas (via tanker truck to onsite tanks). Flexibility calls for LNG terminals in Portland, Searsport and Eastport because LNG and LPG could eventually be replaced in rural Maine by compressed hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water from solar energy. Ship- and truck-delivered LNG could be bought at the lowest price rather than from a national grid whose costly refurbishing is overdue.

An LNG pipeline giveaway is foolish. LNG companies can get a loan. Augusta should issue permits only if everything is in order. LNG “investment” would only subsidize current LNG users with money from all Mainers.

Jack Boak

Bremen