MAINE PUBLIC • April 13, 2026
Gas utilities operating in Maine reported about 1,100 leaks last year, nearly one for every mile of gas distribution line in the state, according to new disclosures required under state law. State Rep. Sophie Warren, D-Scarborough, who sponsored the law, said gas leaks pose threats to health, safety and the environment. "There's a whole host of issues connected to natural gas infrastructure and leaks that are extremely concerning," Warren said. The impact of fugitive gas emissions on the climate is of particular concern, Warren added. Natural gas pumped into homes is mostly made up of methane, which is a greenhouse gas 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a period of 20 years.