PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 15, 2022
The environment is a big issue with Maine voters. While governor, LePage rolled back environmental regulations and stifled renewable energy in the hopes of growing the economy. Mills reversed most of these policies and embraced the state's role as a leader in fighting climate change. “We’ve never had the environmentalist elites and we never will,” LePage said in an interview. “Well, I don’t want them, OK?” Under Mills, Maine exceeded its 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction goal, cutting emissions below Maine’s 1990 levels by about 25 percent, and it is on track to meet its goal of using 80 percent renewable resources for electricity by 2030. Independent Sam Hunkler is also on the gubernatorial ballot but lacks a record to compare to his rivals. He has said he would follow his “ask Mainers” philosophy to set Maine’s environmental policy.