BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 13, 2024
Following a flurry of devastating storms that led to widespread power outages and flooding in recent months, Maine politicians are posturing for more aggressive action on climate change. State policymakers are fighting the wrong battle: If Maine could flip a switch and eliminate all its carbon emissions tomorrow, it would make no observable or quantifiable impact on local, regional or global climates. It would, however, cause measurable economic harm to the average Maine family. No amount of state-level regulations, mandates, prohibitions, government subsidies or investments can reverse or prevent the weather events that afflicted Maine in recent months. Our first priority should be to protect energy options for all Maine families based on their needs. ~ Jacob Posik, director of legislative affairs at Maine Policy Institute, a free-market think tank