PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 15, 2026
We need to replace fossil fuels to avert a climate disaster, especially. President Trump’s attempts to revert to fossil fuels will fail on economic as well as policy grounds. Yet Maine faces formidable challenges. It has the best chance to build renewables of any state in the Northeast, thanks to its wide-open landscapes away from the coast, but there are obstacles that can’t be surmounted without significant changes in the way Maine builds and finances projects. Rather than relying entirely on the private sector, Maine should create a public power authority comparable to those in other states that have produced lower rates and greater public benefits. Unlike CMP and its construction arm, Avangrid, a public authority would pay no federal or state taxes, require no profits and should be far more responsive to public attitudes and needs. Who among those who seek to lead Maine after 2026 will take up the challenge? ~ Douglas Rooks