To the editor:

The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is having serious consequences for birds, fisheries, fishermen, tourism and the marshes that provide flood protection to coastal areas.

Although the oil spill seems far away, we are all involved. Maine is the most oil dependent state in the U.S., with a majority of homes using oil for heating. Because most Maine houses are older and poorly insulated, the average home uses 900 gallons of heating oil each year. Also, a large percentage of our electricity in New England (up to 62 percent) is generated by oil-fired power plants.

Our oil dependence explains why so many of our energy dollars leave Maine and the country every year.

Our oil dependence also highlights the need for a national energy and climate policy to shift us from fossil fuels to clean, renewable fuels like wind, solar, and biomass that can be produced right in Maine.

I would urge readers to contact Sens. Olympia Snowe and Collins to push for strong energy and climate legislation this year. The House of Representatives, including Rep. Chellie Pingree, voted in favor of their version of this legislation last summer.

Collins has introduced a bill designed to transition America off fossil fuels. Her CLEAR Act is a market-based approach that would make big polluters pay for the amount of fossil fuel they burn. Innovative companies that use energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies would be rewarded. Citizens would receive dividend checks to compensate them for any rise in energy prices associated with the transition off fossil fuel.

We need to call for strong climate and energy legislation this year, whether it is Collins’ bill or a similar one. All Americans – from Mainers to Gulf coast residents – stand to benefit in the long run.

Jennifer Niese

Kennebunk