In his weekly radio address, Gov. Paul LePage took another shot at jobs by outlining his plans for taking the state backward in regards to renewable energy.
LePage said renewable energy development is government subsidized at the cost of taxpayers, and he’s not going to stand for it anymore. The cost to taxpayers amounts to $7 million a year, he said, which could be back in the pockets of Maine people.
He failed to mention that amount is less than 1 percent of his proposed biennial budget. He also failed to mention that in the grand scheme of things, his proposed cuts ”“ a few million dollars to public television and few more to social services and public health programs ”“ will do little to reduce the budget but will go a long way to erode the future health of this state and its people, as well as the opportunities available for future generations.
The amount invested in researching and developing renewable energy in Maine is minuscule compared to what is spent overall in many other areas of the budget. Those funds are paramount in developing technologies that will power our state and fund professional jobs for future generations.
The future of Maine will be in offshore windpower, composites and bioproducts. That future will also be in the hands of children who are now in our schools, and if they cannot find good jobs here at home, they will choose to live elsewhere.
In a report commissioned by the Maine State Planning Office in 2004, figures showed more young people are leaving the state, and the concern in widespread.
The report said, in part, “The growth and well-being of the population and the strength and vitality of the economy are complexly entwined. A growing population of young and well-educated individuals fuels economic growth and in turn increases economic opportunity and quality of life for all Maine residents.”
We could not agree more.
And if attacks continue on the little funding that programs to better Maine’s future economy receive, the state will be left behind and the economy will suffer.
In addition, young adults who are graduating from college and will do so in the years to come will follow the jobs ”“ professional jobs that may not be available in Maine if we miss the boat on renewable energy and other future job markets.
According to census figures and the State Planning Office report, the population of young adults between the ages of 20 and 34 increased through the 1970s and 1980s and peaked in 1990 in Maine, but between 1990 and 2000, a significant decline occurred, leaving Maine with 64,000 fewer individuals in this age group in 2000.
Maine needs a leader who can plan for the future rather than one who makes empty gestures to assure Maine people he’s “on our side.”
Maine people need a leader with their best interests in mind and one who is willing to make the actual difficult decisions for the future health and prosperity of this state.
LePage’s energy policy does not do that.
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Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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