WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the United States Congress as follows:

WHEREAS,  not only the State of Maine, but the United States as a whole, is now facing historic energy and climate challenges, particularly economic and environmental challenges, that are a result of our overdependence on fossil fuels; and

WHEREAS,  citizens of the State of Maine are finding it increasingly difficult to heat their homes affordably, and federal action on our energy and climate is long overdue; and

WHEREAS,  the Federal Government must act quickly to develop and implement a clear climate and energy policy; and

WHEREAS,  Maine has the oldest housing stock in the nation, and 80% of Maine homes are heated with oil, and Maine people suffer major financial hardship during periods of price volatility; and

WHEREAS,  the Central Intelligence Agency has created a center on climate change, the United States Marine Corps plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2020 and the United States Navy is reducing its carbon pollution on homeland bases by 50% by 2020 and launching a clean energy battle group by 2016; and

WHEREAS,  Maine’s industrial sector is struggling with its energy costs, putting hundreds of good jobs at risk throughout the State; and

WHEREAS,  having access to efficient energy, using the cheapest and cleanest form of energy and properly weatherizing buildings would create jobs and reduce energy consumption and energy costs for the vast majority of the people of Maine; and

WHEREAS,  Maine has created the Efficiency Maine Trust to coordinate energy efficiency efforts across the State; and

WHEREAS,  Maine is a leader in renewable power research and development, is successfully migrating from fossil fuels to nonfossil fuels and indigenous and renewable resources and has a plan in place to develop significant inland and off-shore wind farms as a means to create jobs, reduce our carbon impact and produce clean, renewable power; and

WHEREAS,  Maine must become a leader in the energy sector with a workforce prepared with the skills and information necessary to attract strong, vibrant businesses; and

WHEREAS,  the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which passed in the United States House of Representatives, lays the foundation for solving America’s energy and climate challenges; and

WHEREAS,  this Act would increase the use of renewable energy, spur the development of a smart power grid, promote electric vehicles and require the implementation of energy efficiency measures; and

WHEREAS,  the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 will put Americans back to work building, delivering and installing the systems and technologies that will help us meet our energy and climate challenges; and

WHEREAS,  in addition, 2 other major bills have been introduced in the United States Senate on this important subject, including the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act and the Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal (CLEAR) Act; now, therefore, be it