Vitality costs are entrance of thoughts for Mainers, and with good cause.
Winter climate is turning into more and more unpredictable, and our reliance on fossil fuels to warmth our properties and energy the grid means we repeatedly really feel the results of worldwide occasions in our wallets. The Legislature now seems poised to cross a invoice to offer direct emergency reduction to Mainers, which is able to alleviate among the present stress. If we wish to keep away from discovering ourselves in the identical scenario once more, we have to flip our consideration to discovering long-term options.
To attain this, we must always construct on the clear vitality and vitality effectivity accomplishments of the previous 4 years. In that point, Governor Mills and the Legislature have made super strides towards serving to Maine handle our vitality and local weather crises, investing in dwelling and enterprise weatherization, warmth pump incentives, electrical transportation and clear electrical energy to scale back our reliance on expensive fossil fuels. Now our lawmakers have an necessary alternative to take that progress to the following stage – making key investments to hurry Maine’s clear vitality transition. They need to seize it.
To start out, we must always proceed to variety our electrical energy technology. Renewable vitality has superior considerably lately, turning into a cost-competitive supply of electrical energy that may save all Mainers cash. The Legislature ought to direct the Public Utilities Fee to acquire further photo voltaic and wind vitality to lock in low electrical energy costs for ratepayers by way of long-term energy buy agreements.
With transportation contributing over half of Maine’s greenhouse fuel emissions, lawmakers must also take steps to extend the provision of electrical automobiles within the state. Adopting clear automotive and clear truck requirements like these not too long ago adopted by Vermont will be certain that Mainers have entry to the newest fashions at auto dealerships within the coming years. We additionally want to offer strong funding for a spread of unpolluted transportation and heating measures, from Effectivity Maine’s rebate and financing packages to MaineDOT’s public and energetic transportation tasks.
Via my participation in Maine’s Local weather Council, I heard from Mainers from throughout the state who’re urging us to take motion now. By specializing in guaranteeing that modest-income Mainers, weak communities, native governments, and small companies profit first and most, the Legislature might help guarantee Maine makes this transition equitably. By siting new clear vitality infrastructure thoughtfully and strategically – prioritizing photo voltaic tasks on brownfields and different degraded or developed lands, for instance, we will transfer ahead quickly but in addition responsibly.
Measures like these can dramatically scale back our dependence on fossil fuels. Even then, Maine communities will proceed going through the results of local weather change within the years forward, whether or not within the type of sea stage rise on the coast, unpredictable climate and seasonal shifts, or elevated flooding of our roads and bridges.
It’s equally necessary that lawmakers proceed investing in group resilience initiatives so our cities can rise to face these challenges. Applications just like the Group Resilience Partnership and state assist for municipal planning could make an unlimited and important distinction all through Maine.
A key alternative on this regard is the Division of Environmental Safety’s municipal stream crossing grant program. With out further funding for cities to upsize their culverts, the growing frequency and depth of storms in Maine will result in extra street washouts like we noticed in Jackman this previous summer time. This under-the-radar program has funded near 200 culvert upgrades from York to Fort Kent over the previous eight years — however funding will quickly run out with out legislative motion. It’s important that we construct on this and different profitable packages, whereas taking full benefit of recent federal funding alternatives.
The 131st Maine Legislature is taking necessary motion to deal with excessive vitality prices. Now, they need to construct on the progress of the previous 4 years and make actual headway towards addressing the basis causes of our local weather and vitality crises. The brand new yr and the brand new legislative session current a novel alternative to do precisely this.
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