Maine lawmakers urged to back climate superfund despite federal threats

The Trump administration is suing four states for their efforts to counter climate change, but conservation groups in Maine are urging lawmakers to take a stand. One bill being considered in Maine would allow state officials to charge a one-time fee to companies that have released more than 1 billion tons of greenhouse gases since 1995. Another would create a “climate superfund” to help pay for infrastructure damage and future mitigation efforts. Nick Janzen, policy and partnerships director with Maine Conservation Voters, said, “We’re really targeting the largest fossil fuel producers.” Opponents of the legislation, including the Maine Chamber of Commerce, say it’s impossible to link environmental damages to pollution by specific companies, and that costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers. Officials from Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection are urging lawmakers to hold off on creating the “climate superfund” to see how federal lawsuits against other states play out.