Opinion: Maine needs more energy storage. It also needs more rigorous environmental review.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 12, 2026

The proposed Western Maine Energy Storage project in Dixfield has attracted attention because it could provide a significant amount of grid-scale energy storage. The project would use pumped-storage technology, moving water between two man-made ponds and generating electricity when demand is high. Unless the ongoing environmental review identifies unexpected impacts or fatal flaws, it is likely to receive the approvals it needs to move forward. The Dixfield project should receive the same scrutiny that Mainers would expect for any other major industrial development proposed in the Maine woods. Hydropower is renewable, but renewable and environmentally benign are not the same thing. Maine needs more energy storage. It also needs rigorous environmental review and an understanding of the tradeoffs that accompany large-scale development. ~ Steve Heinz,Maine Council of Trout Unlimited