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| Contributed Photo/Sharon Campbell U.S. Senator Angus King toured the newly constructed Van Buren Port of Entry last Wednesday, discussing the state-of-the-art facility with representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. General Services Administration. |
By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
VAN BUREN — U.S. Senator Angus S. King Jr. was in Aroostook County for a couple of days last week, touring various facilities around the area, including Northern Maine Community College, University of Maine at Presque Isle and the new, yet to be opened port of entry in Van Buren.
After its completion in June, the state-of-the-art facility will connect Maine to St. Leonard, New Brunswick. It will replace the existing port of entry that sustained significant damage when the St. John River flooded in 2008.
The port’s design features several major upgrades, including better inspection conduits for both large and small vehicles, improved gates and perimeter fencing, and enhanced security measures. It has also been designed to be environmentally friendly with qualities like geothermal heating and cooling, and a rooftop solar hot water system that has helped to garner the recognition of the U.S. Green Building Council.
“It was a pleasure to visit and tour the new and incredibly impressive Van Buren Port of Entry facility,” said King. “I applaud the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. General Services Administration for their collaborative effort in designing and constructing this state-of-the-art facility. This new port of entry will surely set the standard for every border crossing station to come.”
King also commented that he was happy to hear that a great deal of the cost for the $45 million facility went into the local economy with contractors from the community being used to help construct the port.
The newly proposed border-crossing fee was also on the senator’s mind.
“I am very much against the border crossing fee,” he asserted. “Senator Collins and I will both do everything we can to see that that does not happen.”
While King was in The County, he visited with several business people, farmers, schools and the Loring Development Authority. He felt that a lot of positive steps were being taken to help with the economic situation not only in Aroostook, but throughout the state of Maine.
“I’m impressed with how much creativity is going into energy in The County. There’s a lot going on that’s really creative to keeping energy money in Maine,” King commented, referring to the many different heating alternatives to oil that are being utilized.
King praised the efforts of putting the Loring pipeline to use and bringing natural gas to Aroostook County. He said getting a hold of the budget situation, getting rid of the sequester that’s been imposed and continuing the effort to create jobs were all important factors in improving the area’s economic growth.
