PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2021
The announcement by Summit Natural Gas of the withdrawal of their plan to extend a fracked gas pipeline from Belfast through Thomaston is a win for our health, planet and economy. It’s also a testament to the power of community organizing. The best alternative to fracked gas and other fossil fuels is electrification. As we move to a renewable-energy economy, all electricity will become powered by renewable energy sources. To help transition more people to clean electricity, Sierra Club Maine is advocating for a “Green Bank,” which will fund efficiency and clean-energy projects in Maine, with a specific focus on providing equitable financing opportunities, such as low-interest loans to low-income households, small businesses and those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. It’s time to think of our future. Fracked gas isn’t a “bridge fuel.” It is just another fossil fuel that pollutes the planet. ~ Sarah Leighton, Sierra Club Maine