MACHIAS VALLEY NEWS OBSERVER • October 23, 2025
Maine is promulgating climate, energy, and equity policies that have had an adverse disparate impact on rural Maine. Climate policy has driven up energy and electricity prices, been opaque as to the size and distribution of the costs and benefits (averted climate change), and loudly pursued equity without defining it. Legislation from 2nd Congressional District Republican leadership offered several opportunities to correct these issues. A series of party line votes assured that the adverse disparate impact will continue. Maine has increased public/conservation land holdings using generous Land for Maine’s Future funding. The 30% goal would require doubling public lands holdings by adding 3 million acres. Public lands holdings and acquisitions are concentrated in the 2nd CD - no county in the 1st CD has even double digits in public holdings: The 30% public lands goal has an adverse disparate impact on the 2nd CD, removing much larger percentages of the tax base, and it is only going to get worse. ~ Jon Reisman