Opinion: Maine’s energy goals depend on a regulatory process people can trust

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October x, 2026

Our state leaders continue to aggressively promote widespread electrification, economic development, transportation electrification, rapid heat pump adoption and clean energy expansion. Every one of these initiatives drives up the daily demand for electrical infrastructure, heavy-duty service upgrades and overall grid capacity. Meeting these goals requires a larger workforce and a stronger, more resilient grid. There is an inherent contradiction in encouraging a society-wide dependence on electricity while simultaneously creating deep financial uncertainty around the exact investments that such dependence requires. If Maine hopes to build the skilled workforce, modern infrastructure and robust electric system its economic and energy policies require, it must preserve a regulatory process people can trust, rely upon and plan their lives around. ~ Tim Burgess, IBEW Local 104