PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 20, 2026
While Jacob Aronoff makes a valid pitch that tax revenues from crypto mining might offset the public outlay required to improve Maine’s power grid and subsidize the crypto mining industry’s need for massive amount of electricity (“Maine’s energy grid needs help. Crypto mining might offer it,” Feb. 2), this story hit at the same time as reports that a United Arab Emirates company took a $500 million stake in President Trump’s family-owned crypto enterprise. Aside from the unbearable noise emanating 24/7 from the facilities, the power they require is off the scale. Maine already subsidizes commercial solar farms at taxpayer expense. Just say no to this latest raid on our wallets. ~ Larry Butler, Topsham