MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • August 4, 2024
Is Maine willing to pay up for the good of the environment? We should be. Talks are underway about how to price the financing, building and operation of offshore wind power. As envisaged – comprising 10 turbines about 40 miles offshore – would strip as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year as if we took more than 100,000 gas-powered cars off the road. If the carbon benefits aren’t enough to drive a bargain, hopefully the promise of solid jobs in manufacturing, construction and transportation, or an anticipated $1 billion in economic activity for the state of Maine, are persuasive factors. The environmental case alone is screamingly urgent.