AUGUSTA, Maine - For decades, the federal government has subsidized various energy sources - from building hydro damns in some parts of the country to providing tax breaks for solar and wind projects.
Maine 2nd District Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, says given the federal budget deficit it's time to end federal subsidies for energy production.
"I believe in all sources of energy," he says, "but over a period of time we need to wind down these subsidies and make sure everybody can make it on their own and drive down the cost and increase the supply."
Poliquin says it's time that all the various energy sources stand alone, without federal subsidies. He says in the past the federal government has helped some areas of the nation get cheap hydro power through federally-financed hydro dams, but New England has never received such subsidies. He says it's one reason why electric power rates are higher in this region than in many other parts of the country.
