BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 28, 2021
The referendum to stop the clean energy corridor is dangerous because it does much more than advertised. Study the question. We’re essentially being asked four broad questions: First, do you approve of permanent development prohibitions in one part of Maine, absent any consideration or prioritization involving the rest of the state? Second, do you want to give a small minority of legislators the power to stop certain clean energy projects? Third, do you trust partisan politicians to responsibly use the power to retroactively nullify building permits that were lawfully issued? Fourth, do you think complex regulatory decisions are better made through political campaigns than through methodical administrative proceedings? Despite the speed of the change around us, even those who accept climate science are falling victim to the kind of policy paralysis offered by this dangerous referendum. It commits us deeper into doing nothing. ~ Tom Rumpf, Brunswick