PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 20, 2026
Fossil fuel companies are spewing billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the air every year. These act like a blanket, reflecting heat back toward the Earth, where it’s absorbed by the ocean. This is why the Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest warming bodies of water on the planet. Our rising ocean temperatures are the root cause of more frequent and more severe storms. Flooding, high winds and falling trees have cost Maine electric ratepayers over $200 million in each of the past four years. Introduced by state Sen. Stacy Brenner, the “Polluter Pays” bill (LD 1870) would charge fossil fuel companies a fee for climate damage they’ve caused in Maine. The funds would be deposited into a state “climate superfund” and used to pay for storm repair and strengthening local infrastructure. Vermont and New York passed similar legislation in 2024. Ten other states, including Maine, are proposing similar legislation. Lawsuits filed by the American Petroleum Institute and the Trump claim that states are regulating emissions, and that this violates interstate commerce laws. These new laws are a step toward making polluters accountable for pollution they cause. ~ Sue Inches, North Yarmouth