MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 27, 2025
Maine has made more progress in thinking about its energy future and taking direct action toward specific goals than most states. And in spite of federal interference and lack of support, Maine continues to work with Canada and other Northeastern states to coordinate grid improvements. But I am increasingly concerned that the Maine Energy Plan focuses so much on how to make our electrical supply “green” that it does not adequately consider how to keep it protected. Existing physical security for Maine’s vast electric power infrastructure, designed for a less informed, more law-abiding society that no longer exists, and at a time when the electricity supply system was not so essential for the functioning of everything, is now inadequate. All of the good work will be wasted if the transmission lines, substations, distribution lines and sources of electricity are not physically secure. ~ Peter Ryner, research faculty member and planning consultant, Windham