Pedego Electric Bike Puts the Wind in His Sails

AUGUSTA, Maine - Nov. 11, 2013 - PRLog -- Shea Gunther has an urgent delivery to make. It’s a petition signed by more than 1300 Maine residents demanding that their governor take a lead on renewable energy development. To make it clear that Gunther lives his vision, he is set to deliver the document to the state capital in Augusta by way of a 60-mile electric bicycle ride from his home in Portland, Maine. "A lot of my fellow Mainers agree and signed my petition,” says Gunther. “I want to honor their collective voice by riding my Pedego electric bike up to Augusta to hand deliver their signatures to the governor's office."

According to Gunther’s petition site, at issue is a $120 million offshore wind pilot project. Norwegian energy company Statoil pulled out of the proposed project, which called for four floating turbines to be anchored near Boothbay Harbor. The reason? Maine Governor Paul LePage had pressured the state legislature to negate Statoil's deal and open the project back up for proposals. According to Gunther, there’s a certain irony to the state’s new slogan pushed by the governor, “Open for Business.” On the petition Web page, he writes, “It seems that in Governor LePage's state, that slogan doesn't apply to clean energy businesses.”

Gunther plans to leave on Thursday. He'll deliver the petition to the governor's office on the morning of Friday, November 15, and make the 60-mile ride home from Augusta that day. His motto for the ride is simple but serious. "I'm riding for renewable,” he says. “I started my petition because I believe Governor LePage should lead, follow, or get out of the way of clean energy development in my state." Gunther’s bike ride will no doubt carry some weight with the governor. The online version of the petition can be found at http://bit.ly/18WUY8m.

Due to the length of the trip, and the fact that he plans to arrive fresh and ready to perform some public speaking, Gunther will ride his Pedego electric bike. A writer for the Mother Nature Network, he has owned and enjoyed his Pedego for a few years. It seemed a natural for the trip, he explains, and the presence of the bike makes a statement of its own. "It just makes sense to make the ride on my electric bike,” says Gunther. “If Maine generated all of its electricity from renewable sources, my 120-mile trip would be essentially carbon free. Electric bikes represent the future we should all be working towards."

About Shea Gunther

Shea Gunther is a writer for the Mother Nature Network, and his work can be viewed online at http://www.mnn.com/featured-blogs/sgunther. He is also a computer science student, dad, husband, and ultimate Frisbee player living in Portland, Maine.

 About Pedego® Electric Bikes

Pedego®, the world’s most renowned electric bicycle, built its reputation by creating chic e-bikes outfitted with the latest in electric bike technology. Pedego’s commitment to innovation has led to worldwide acclaim for their leading-edge design. Their many stylish e-bike models, such as the Pedego® City Commuter, offer a cost-effective and green alternative for transportation, exercise, recreation and fun … without worrying about hills or headwinds! Hailing from Orange County, California, Pedego Electric Bikes is one of the fastest growing electric bicycle companies in the world. For more information, please visit http://www.pedegoelectricbikes.com/