PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 26, 2026
Gov. Paul LePage turned against wind energy projects. Turbine developers shifted to the Great Plains. Maine didn’t achieve its 3,000-megawatt goal. The state has 923 megawatts in place. Now, Maine has the opportunity for a giant leap forward. Aroostook Wind, at an initial size of 1,200 megawatts, would equal Hydro Quebec’s contribution to the Massachusetts grid. Maine has an ambitious renewable energy mandate — 100% carbon-neutral electricity by 2040. Aroostook Wind and other potential projects are by far the cheapest and fastest way of meeting the requirement. Yet only a small fraction of these public benefits will be realized under the request for proposal put out to bid by the Maine Public Utilities Commission. When the news spreads the Maine PUC plans to export most of Aroostook Wind’s power without significant benefits to the state responsible for hosting the turbines and transmission lines, public reaction is likely to be fiery and negative. ~ Douglas Rooks