Dear Editor:

In Jarryl Larson's letter to the editor in the May 12 edition of the Register, she states those who caused the death of L.D. 1649, the Solar Bill, seem to be unable to see the facts (they are blind) and acted incorrectly as a result.

To make her point she compares Germany to Maine and cites Germany's efforts to increase its energy sources to greater levels of renewables. To that end, Germany was the world leader in 2015 producing 32.5 percent of its energy needs from all renewable sources. A breakdown of just Germany's 2015 renewable energy sources shows wind power provided 44.4 percent, biomass 25.7 percent, solar 19.9 percent and hydro 10.0 percent. In 2015, solar power provided 38.5 TWh of 587 TWh of Germany's power consumption, or 6.6 percent of the total. This does not support Larson's statement of solar providing 50 percent of Germany's total electrical demand in any year and places solar as the next to last power source in Germany. Of note though, 38.5 TWh is not a small amount of power.

Larson further states that "Germany satisfied 78 percent of its electrical demand with renewable sources...". This is a true statement up to a point. 78 percent was achieved once on Saturday, July 25, 2015 and does not represent the 2015 annual level of 32.5 percent from renewables.

Further, public support for the transition to renewable energy in Germany is not unanimous, as the consumer (vs. industry) is being asked to pick up the cost the effort.

Saudi Arabia's economic plan referenced by Larson is not one of migrating to non-oil based renewable energy sources, but investing today's oil revenues in long-term non-oil based investments to lessen the reliance on oil revenues to fund their government. At this time and into the future, the Saudis will be glad to sell all the oil they can to pay for their economic plan.

While the "facts"cited by Larson are not accurate, I believe there are valid reasons to increase the level of renewable power sources in Maine and the United States. How and who pays for it in a fair manner is the question. However, there is nothing to be gained by insulting those who have a different point of view or not verifying the "facts" used to justify one's point.

Paul Mayotte
Cape Coral, Florida and Trevett