Pollution-free Power Sources Will Help All Maine Breathe Easier

Maine has made tremendous progress in ensuring that we breathe smoke-free air whenever we're in an enclosed space in our state.

We are a national leader in protecting people from exposure to secondhand smoke. This protection most recently was expanded to prohibit smoking in cars in which children are occupants.

When we walk into a building in another state that still allows indoor smoking, it is shocking. That's because what was once controversial policy in this state -- assuring smoke-free air in all indoor public spaces -- has now become a public expectation.

Not long ago, secondhand smoke filled Maine's restaurants, office buildings, jury rooms, grocery stores, malls, airports, banks and even the halls of the State House. But when we enter a restaurant today, we no longer hear the question "smoking or nonsmoking?"

This change did not come overnight. It certainly didn't come without conflict. Ten years ago, even the most optimistic public-health advocates would not have thought we would have smoke-free bars, not only in Maine but throughout New England.

Just as Maine fought hard to protect people's health from indoor air pollution over the past 35 years, Maine is now taking thoughtful steps to protect and improve outdoor air quality.

One of our major efforts to improve outdoor air quality is reducing the burning of fossil fuel and expanding the use of clean, healthy and renewable power.

Maine is fortunate to have a wealth of actual and potential renewable power through our hydro, tidal, solar and wind resources.

Through greater reliance on these renewable energy sources, we can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, such as foreign oil and coal, and the toxic pollutants released when they are burned.

According to Dr. Dora Mills, Maine's public health director, decades of study have shown that both foreign oil and coal are major contributors to air pollution and result in avoidable disability and death from heart disease, cancer, asthma and other lung diseases.

Maine has some of the nation's highest rates of asthma and other lung diseases. We also have one of the highest elderly population in the U.S. as a percent of total population. Those with lung disease -- and the elderly in general -- are especially susceptible to the effects of air pollution.

Critics were vocal when Maine debated a ban on indoor smoking. Smokers' rights groups opposed nearly every step forward toward healthier indoor air.

Today, however, smoke-free environments enjoy overwhelming public support.

Now, as Maine works to improve outdoor air quality, critics once have again stepped up efforts to halt progress. Opposition to commercial wind power development is growing.

Claims of impacts on health from wind power must be validated scientifically.

The state needs both regulatory provisions governing wind turbines and careful examination of their siting, especially in proximity to residences, but this needs to be done in a timely manner.

We simply don't have the option of doing nothing to increase renewable energy if we care about breathing clean outdoor air.

Maine uses a lot of energy. We also export energy to markets to our south. We need to ensure that this exported energy, when produced by our clean renewable sources, displaces the fossil fuel sources upwind of Maine so we can benefit from cleaner air coming into our state.

Fossil fuels have dramatically improved our standard of living over the past century.

But we have now reached the point where we must create an energy future that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and coal for the sake of our security, our economy, our environment and, yes, our health.

Maine has taken a leadership role in New England.

On the horizon is the prospect for more wind, solar and tidal energy production, more research and development, and more economic development in our state.

The American Lung Association in Maine has been an early and strong supporter of wind power and other clean renewable energy sources.

The association will continue to support energy solutions that make good economic and health policy sense in order to achieve in outdoor air quality improvements what has already been gained in improved indoor, smoke-free air.

Mark Ishkanian of Readfield, is a member of the boards of the American Lung Association in Maine and New England.