Staff Writer
AROOSTOOK COUNTY — Water levels and temperatures are not the only things on the rise in Aroostook County. Fuel prices and speculation of price gouging are coming in full view of area residents who are attempting to cope with the nearly $4 per gallon gas price.
Recently, Maine’s Attorney General Steve Rowe released a report stating that there was no price gouging taking place. Other local representatives concurred with Rowe’s report, however, they also agreed that the continued rise in fuel costs were going to mean lifestyle changes for most.
“What is happening to us is happening to everyone all over the country,” said District 34 Senator Roger Sherman. “I really don’t think any of us are going to be able to handle more increases. It’s going to be a lifestyle change.”
With oil reaching as high as $125 a barrel, the dependency on fuel is seriously hurting consumers. Sen. Sherman said he feels as “helpless as anyone else.”
“This has gone way beyond what anyone has predicted,” he said. “In the end, each of us has got to make a decision about driving 15 to 20 percent less. I don’t see any other course.
“I really don’t see any short-term solution,” he added.
Suggestions of becoming more fuel efficient, staying home more or investing in alternative fuels are all acceptable, however, Sen. Sherman said there are consequences for everything.
“I think one of the solutions is alternative fuels, but none of that is going to help,” he said. “The bio-fuel is going to hurt on the food side.”
What will also hurt in the long run is the lower amount of tourists coming back to the county this summer. Houlton, like most towns, relies heavily on tourism in the summer. Because of the high cost of fuel, regular visitors may be forced to stay home.
“Luckily, our Canadian friends are still coming across the border because the gas is still cheaper here than it is in Canada and I know they’re coming across for shopping, so maybe they’ll make up for the loss of some other folks,” said Sherman. “We, as a country, have got ourselves in a mess, in terms of energy. We don’t supply much of our own oil, which I think it’s down to 35 percent.
“We’re going to have to get cars with higher gas mileage, or we simply just won’t drive as much,” he added.
Rep. Richard Cleary echoed some of Sen. Sherman’s thoughts as well.
“They should definitely investigate and make sure there’s no price gouging,” said Cleary. “The federal gas tax plan should be explored. I know state tax and federal tax are used for road projects, which are also in a difficult situation because if the roads continue to decline than we’ll need funding from some source.
“At the same token, the prices are just way too high so they ought to check into a temporary suspension of that,” he said.
As of Tuesday morning, May 13, gas prices in Houlton had reached as high as $3.89 per gallon.
