Nuclear energy numbers
In a July 11 OpEd, Peter Bradford scolds Gov. Paul LePage for his support of nuclear power at the expense of solar energy. Perhaps a little bit of background would be helpful. The United States uses about 4,000 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Nuclear plants supply about 20 percent. If this contribution were spread out over the year, each month would see the generation of about 65 billion kilowatt-hours.
But that is not how it works. In each of the heavy-demand months — December and January, then again in July and August — the 99 nuclear plants pound over 72 billion kilowatt-hours into the grid. In April and September, when electric demand is low, the nuclear output per month is 55 billion kilowatt-hours. This lower demand period is used for maintenance and refueling.
The nuclear plants not only operate when they are needed but where they are needed. The Seabrook nuclear station is near the Boston load center. Not much wire is needed to reach the customers.
Without massive storage systems, growth in solar and wind systems would be limited. When talking to a Maine audience, I can endear myself with this suggestion: Dam the St. John below the confluence with the Allagash. Create a multimillion-acre lake. Now, the available hyro energy would pick up the bumps and grinds of the willy-nilly wind and solar.
I thought that with all technology there was a “learning curve.” With nuclear, there must be a “forgetting curve.” Did regulation in overdrive have anything to do with this?
Richard C. Hill
Old Town
Aerial spraying concerns
A paid announcement in the Presque Isle Star Herald on June 15 stated Irving Woodlands LLC would be conducting aerial herbicide spraying in seven towns and 24 unincorporated areas in far northern Maine over a period of one month, Aug. 15 to Sept. 15. Spraying is supposedly intended to control competing vegetation on young pine tree plantations. Herbicides are Rodeo (glyphosate) and Entree, Arsenal AC (imazapyr) and Oust XP.
The announcement says: “Information signs will be posted at all normal entrances to the treatment areas. The public is asked to stay out of the treated areas until the herbicide has dried and to not eat the berries,” such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries that grow wild. What about the wildlife that live on them? They don’t restrict themselves to “normal entrances” or read signs. What about all the homes, businesses and schools in the target areas and downwind? A month is enough time for the wind to vary in every direction. Who knows how widely this poison will be spread?
I am reminded of the genocidal aerial spraying of bacteria and drugs in various parts of the U.S. that the government has been carrying out for more than 50 years and apologizes for when the public finds out. But the public here in Maine doesn’t seem to believe that anything the government allows could be so bad for them.
Carolyn Bailey
Caribou
Caregivers Act
Sen. Susan Collins, along with other members of Congress, joined leaders from the employer, health care, venture funding, entrepreneurial and consumer advocacy communities July 8 for a discussion on the challenges facing and potential solutions for the 40 million Americans who provide care for their parents, spouses/partners and other loved ones. The “Forum on Family Caregiving: Perspectives from Policymakers and Thought Leaders” was convened by AARP on Capitol Hill as part of its ongoing work to support family caregivers.
At the forum, Sen. Collins and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, announced new legislation, the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act. AARP is pleased to endorse this important legislation and thanks the senators for their efforts to work on a bipartisan basis to support family caregivers.
The RAISE Family Caregivers Act would require the development of a national strategy to support family caregivers. The bill would create an advisory body to bring together relevant federal agencies and others from the private and public sectors to advise and make recommendations. The strategy would identify specific actions government, communities, providers, employers and others can take to recognize and support family caregivers and be updated annually.
By supporting family caregivers, we can help people stay at home where they want to be, helping to delay or prevent more costly nursing home care and unnecessary hospitalizations and saving taxpayer dollars. AARP appreciates Collins’ bipartisan leadership and is committed to working to pass the RAISE Family Caregivers Act this year.
Rich Livingston
AARP Maine Volunteer State President
Auburn
McCain is War hero
Donald Trump’s remark on Sen. John McCain only being a hero because he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam is absolute hogwash. McCain is a hero because at that time his father, Adm. John S. McCain Jr., was Commander in Chief Pacific Command (CINCPAC). The North Vietnamese wanted to use then Lt. Cmdr. John McCain III as a propaganda stunt by letting him free.
McCain refused the offer because the POWs had a code of honor that the longest serving POW should be the first one to go home.
That, to me, makes McCain a national hero.
Terry White
Hermon
Young mind for mayor
My name is Toni Gillotti, I am 18 years of age, and I want to be the next mayor of Houlton. Because Houlton has no mayor and is run by a council, I would like to petition the town. I would work as head of that council, and I would provide insight on what decisions might be most useful to the town and the next generation. A fresh, new, young mind as leader may prove beneficial to our small town.
Before laughing off my proposal, let me just point out that there have been at least seven other cases where a person of my age has become mayor. Let me remind you, too, of the town in Alaska that has had a cat, Mr. Stubbs, as its mayor. Let me also tell you about the 4-year-old boy, Robert Tufts, who became mayor of a small town in Minnesota.
I believe that if these other young people — and a cat — can succeed, then so can I. I don’t wish to bring any major changes. I don’t wish to run the town. I only hope to provide a better future for my generation and the ones following in our footsteps.
Toni Gillotti
Monticello