Dear Editor:

I am a resident of Boothbay Harbor. I started visiting in 1955 and from a few days I grew to a permanent resident in 2011. During those years I’ve seen a lot of changes in both Boothbay and the world. One of those changes that affects us all is climate change—summer in January, catastrophic storms, winter in June.

I am concerned about the consequence of climate change. I wonder what the future will be for my grandchildren. I am hopeful and believe that there is something we can do now.

Our legislature has coming before it two bills that I believe must be passed. Those bills are LD 1895, “A Procurement Bill” and LD 1818, “A Ports Bill.” LD 1895 is the most important because, if passed, LD 1895 opens the possibility of a sustainable Maine. LD1895 allows for Maine created and sustained off-shore, floating (yes floating not stationary) wind turbines, developed at the University of Maine—Orono. LD 1895 mandates fair labor practices, and fair labor rates. LD1895 may encourage our youth to stay in Maine with high quality jobs and training.

What we can do now is contact Lincoln County’s voice in the Maine Legislature and encourage them to support and vote for both LD1895 and LD1818. Our State Representative is Holly Stover, District #48, Holly.Stover@legislature.maine.gov and our State Senator is Cameron Reny, Senate District 13, cameron.reny@legislature.maine.gov.

Bill Gruener

Boothbay Harbor