SACO — The governor was in town Tuesday, praising a local company for its environmental excellence and criticizing legislators he said have not worked to combat high energy costs.

Gov. Paul LePage was at INCON Tuesday with Maine Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Avery Day to present the company with one of this year’s Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

INCON, founded in 1978, is a developer and manufacturer of online monitors for the power utility, hydroelectric and industrial markets. The company is located at 34 Spring Hill Road.

The company’s engineers have designed a monitor that detects leaks of SF6 – the most potent greenhouse gas – much earlier than any existing system, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“It’s huge,” not only for the state, but for the country, LePage said Tuesday. “It’s finding that balance between good-paying jobs and being a good corporate citizen to our state and to our environment.”

Day said the technology is not complicated to install. “This is good for the environment and the economy,” he said. “I think this is truly remarkable work.”

LePage spoke to press outside the building after the ceremony, stating that he thought Maine needed to be more competitive when it comes to the cost of energy to help retain businesses. He alluded to a mill in Maine that will be closing, which was later that day announced to be a pulp mill in Old Town.

LePage said he thinks the state needs to expand natural gas and import power from Canada.

LePage said he couldn’t get the Legislature to work with him to lower energy costs because, as he put it, “you can’t fix stupid.” He said places outside of Maine are “kicking our butt in the marketplace.”

“Get over yourself, get to the table and fix it,” he said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].