BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 2, 2020
Power companies plan to use the surge in renewables as an excuse to raise rates for consumers. This would not be an issue if the utilities were owned by the state and run by and for Mainers instead of foreign profit-seeking entities. Last year, Democratic Rep. Seth Berry of Bowdoinham proposed LD 1646, a bipartisan bill for a Maine Power Delivery Authority — i.e. buy out our two big power companies. Power companies provide a basic need, which will only become more important as the state transitions to electric cars and heat pumps, etc. Ask the people of Houlton who have a municipally owned power and water company, where the costs are 35 percent lower than the average for Maine. A publicly owned utility will be better for Maine. ~ Haydee Foreman, Blue Hill