Dear Editor:

This is the comment I recently submitted to the state regarding the proposed rule to require more electric vehicles in the state.

I am strongly opposed to this rule. While there is no question that the climate is changing (as it always has and always will), this proposal is not the way to deal with the problem. The reality is that if every human, every automobile, every cow, every leaf blower, and every power plant vanished from the state of Maine tomorrow, it would have absolutely no measurable impact on the world's climate in 75 years. The same would be true if we all switched to coal burning furnaces and started driving 1970s vintage Diesels. We are simply too small. 

Instead, the state's focus should be on helping people prepare and react to the changes by reducing regulation (for example allowing building of new, higher, stronger piers without going through punishing permitting requirements) and encouraging business growth through lower taxes and regulatory burdens. This would help solve the shortage of contractors and employees that is slowing the state's recovery from the recent storms. The current proposal would simply punish Maine taxpayers with absolutely no benefit (and potentially significant harm) to the environment. 

Bill Hunt

Southport