New England Governors Presented Report on Region's Energy Needs

AUGUSTA - The Power Planning Committee of the New England Governors Conference (NEGC) presented a report to the Governors on the need for additional natural gas supplies or other energy options to fuel New England's projected energy demands. The NEGC report concludes that energy shortages could occur after 2010 if natural gas supply is not increased, or other measures are not taken to reduce energy consumption or increase reliance on non-gas supply sources.

On a peak winter day over two-thirds of the region's gas is used for heating, primarily in southern New England, but in recent years the electric generation sector has become increasingly reliant on natural gas.

The study examined the benefits and costs of nine different scenarios to meet New England's projected energy demand, including four liquefied natural gas options. The relative cost of each option is listed below:

Million $/ Billion Cubic Feet
Fuel Switching
Low Oil Price Premium
High Oil Price Premium
0.61
1.18
Electric Energy Efficiency, 2.82
Coal Gasification, 3.64
Nuclear Generation, 3.97
Renewable Generation, 4.50
On-Shore, In-Region Expansion, 5.77
On-Shore, In-Region LNG, 5.97
Off-Shore, In-Region LNG, 6.17
On-Shore, Out-of-Region Storage, 6.31

The study concludes that LNG expansion options increase the reliability of the natural gas system, but are more costly than the other options. The report was prepared in response to the January 2004 "Cold Snap," when the confluence of high heating and electricity demand tested the natural gas supply and delivery infrastructure in New England. The report, entitled "Meeting New England's Future Natural Gas Demands: Nine Scenarios and Their Impacts," has been posted on the state's energy information website,www.maineenergyinfo.com

Bryant Brothers propose bill for Iraq vets
News from the Maine Senate Majority Office

AUGUSTA-State Senator Bruce Bryant, D-Oxford County, and Representative Mark Bryant, D-Windham, two brothers serving in the Maine Legislature together, this week testified in support of legislation that would provide Maine residents who are veterans of the Iraq war a free one-year pass to state parks and free hunting and fishing licenses. To be eligible, veterans must have served a minimum of 90 days. A work session is expected to be scheduled within a few weeks. Rep. Bryant represents House District 110, part of Windham and part of Gray.

More information about the bill, LD 649, can be found online at:
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280015367

Census data for Gray and New Gloucester

The census has released town-specific information and it looks like Gray and New Gloucester are aging. The total population in Gray was 6,820 in 2000. The number of men and women were almost evenly split, with men outnumbering women by only 108. The biggest portion of the population in age is in the 35 to 44 years range, with 19.6%. Those between 45 to 54 years ran a close second at 16.4% of the population in Gray, and those between 25 to 34 years 15.0%. Median age (years) is 37.4.

Total households in Gray are 2,637 with total housing units numbering 3,202. Of those, 2,637 were occupied housing units (82.4%) and 565 were vacant housing units (17.6%). 481 housing units were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, or 15.0%.

The School Enrollment population in Gray in the year 2000 for 3 years and over stood at 1,681. The breakdown was:

Nursery school, preschool: 4.6%, Kindergarten: 5.7%, Elementary school (grades 1-8): 46.6%, High school (grades 9-12): 6.5%, College or graduate school: 16.6%.
Educational Attainment for the population 25 years and over broke down thus:
Less than 9th grade attainment was 2.1%, 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 6.7%, High school graduate (includes equivalency) 33.5%, Some college, no degree 21.2%, Associate degree 8.5%, Bachelor's degree 19.4%, Graduate or professional degree 8.6%, Percent high school graduate or higher 91.2%, Percent bachelor's degree or higher 28.0%, Totals, Percent high school graduate or higher = 91.2, percent bachelor's degree or higher 28.0.

In New Gloucester, the number of men and women split to men at 2,428 or 50.6% and women 49.4% for a total of 4,803. The highest population is in the 35 to 44 years age range, 21.0%. The next largest demographic are folks in the 45 to 54 years age range, 15.2% of New Gloucesterites. Third are folks between 25 to 34 years who make up 14.0% of the population in town. Median age is 35.5.
Total households in New Gloucester number 1,761 with total housing units numbering 1,889.

Occupied housing units comprise 93.2% and vacant housing units stand at 6.8% with seasonal, recreational, or occasional use at 4.4%.

New Gloucester has a yonger median age but a higher percent of educational attainment than Gray. School Enrollment in New Gloucester in 2000 stood at a population of 1,229 who were 3 years and over enrolled in school. The breakdown is thus:

Nursery school, preschool, 4.1%, Kindergarten, 3.2%, Elementary school (grades 1-8) 58.2%,High school (grades 9-12) 19.3% and College or graduate school 15.2%.
Educational Attainment for the 3,145 New Gloucesterites 25 years and older:
Less than 9th grade, 2.1%, 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 6.7%, High school graduate (includes equivalency) 33.5%, Some college, no degree 21.2%, Associate degree. 8.5%, Bachelor's degree 19.4%, Graduate or professional degree 8.6%.
Totals, percent high school graduate or higher = 89.5 and percent bachelor's degree or higher 21.9.

Full information can be found online at http://censtats.census.gov/data/ME/0602300528870.pdf for Gray and http://censtats.census.gov/data/ME/0602300548820.pdf for New Gloucester.