Energy Conservation Action and Tips

Dear Friends,

I am Senator Phil Bartlett, and I represent the communities of Gorham, Westbrook, and Scarborough. I am also the Senate Chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee and serve as a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

If ever there was a time to help families conserve energy--that time is now. We are seeing oil prices heading towards $100 a barrel. You can see it at the gas station. Gas is well over $3 a gallon. Home heating oil is heading up to $3 to $4 a gallon.

The extraordinary costs that are being borne by Maine homeowners are creating dire situations for too many of our families.

That is why I have introduced legislation to help Maine homeowners conserve energy. Over the coming weeks, I will be outlining more of the details of my plan. In the meantime, we've prepared this short video that provides information about things you can do right now to save money.

Watch Video Now

There are also a number of other tips available at our Web site www.mainesenate.org/energy.

The bill ultimately won passage, and allows Maine to join at least ten other states in a carbon cap and trade program designed to curb pollution.

Best Wishes,

Phil Bartlett
Senator, District 6

By the way, if you have time, I would like to share with you this short speech I gave at the end of last session urging passage of the "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative." [Watch Speech Now]

Senate Dems Launch Video Podcast

Augusta, ME—The Maine Senate Democrats have launched a video podcast to enhance the way they communicate with Maine people.

In the inaugural podcast, Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell, D-Kennebec County said, “Our goal in bringing these video messages to you is to provide periodic updates, which will include news and information about some of the important issues being debated or talked about in the Legislature.” She also added that the Democratic Senators hope to have a little fun at the same time.

Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus who either chair a legislative committee or hold a leadership post will deliver the video podcasts.

In her first podcast, Senator Mitchell pointed to some important accomplishments Senate Democrats have helped achieve recently including funding the state’s share of local education at 55 percent and passing a bipartisan budget.

More video podcasts will be available later at youtube.com and mainesenate.org. The podcasts are taped at the State House in Augusta.