PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 20, 2025
Under the proposed budget reconciliation bill Maine could lose $400 million annually in federal funding — cuts that would disproportionately harm rural Mainers. Maine has led the nation in heat pump adoption. Eliminating the $2,000 home energy credit would undermine hard-won momentum toward energy affordability and independence. The broader clean energy economy in Maine also tells a compelling story. The 15,000 total jobs and $2.1 billion impact statewide are at risk. Maine’s outdoor economy would also take a hit. Outdoor recreation contributed $3.4 billion to the state economy in 2023 and supported nearly 30,000 jobs. Sen. Collins must decide whether to summon the moxie to do what’s right for Maine. In this truly pivotal moment, She should vote “no” on — or demand major changes to — the current budget reconciliation bill. ~ Blake Keogh, South Portland, graduate student at the University of Southern Maine