MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • December 8, 2026
Mainers are grappling with rising costs; growing threats to public health; and the impacts of severe storms, droughts and heat waves. Meanwhile, our federal government is rolling back vital environmental protections. These challenges are deeply connected. Protecting our environment goes hand in hand with making life more affordable, improving public health and building a stronger future for Maine families. The governor-elect has the chance to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities. Here are three key priorities: First, make polluters pay. Second, ensure affordability and accountability. Third, modernize permitting while protecting communities. Environmental justice must remain central to each of these. ~ Kate Sinding Daly, Conservation Law Foundation, Portland