Dear Editor:

I just read Joe's Journal, “I'm for the local guys.” So am I, even though I'm from away. I grew up in New Jersey, now live in New Mexico, and spend summers with my wife and dog in our Sprucewold cabin. I've eaten spiny lobsters in California and other countries where our lobsters don't live. Anyone who says they are as tasty as our Homarus americanus either hasn't tasted one or is just lying.

I've been coming to Maine since the 1950s and Boothbay Harbor since 1964. I won't even try to count the number of lobsters I've eaten and cooked. Several times we've flown a dozen or so to New Mexico to share with friends; usually along with steamed clams.

My wife and I often went with lobstermen in earlier years to see how the trade is practiced. My wife grew up on her family dairy farm in Pennsylvania; I think of fishermen as farmers of the sea.

On more thing Joe mentioned was the electric car and battery industry. Maine Calling this morning devoted the show to EVs in Maine, especially the need for more charging stations. The industry and environmental groups say electric vehicles are completely nonpolluting. The vehicles themselves don't emit CO2; however, 65% of our electricity still comes from the burning of fossil fuels; EVs switch the pollution source from the autos back to the coal, oil and gas plants. When I looked up the status of Maine's electricity, I found the following statement: In 2020, 79% of Maine's electricity net generation came from renewable energy, and hydroelectric power provided the largest share at 34%.

I'd say hip-hip-hooray for Maine!

Doug Reilly

Boothbay Harbor

and New Mexico