I supported the Pine Tree Power referendum to purchase Central Maine Power and Versant. https://www.maine.gov/meopa/electricity/utilities I still support purchasing these two entities and forming a customer owned non-profit. https://ctmirror.org/2023/11/11/maine-public-power-company-referendum-vote/
For any governor, his or her ability would be very limited when it comes to affecting energy prices. Any candidate who promises to lower prices for electricity if elected is not being truthful. In a perfect world, prices would be determined by the laws of supply and demand. As demand goes up relative to supply, prices also go up. As demand goes down relative to supply, prices go down. When there is a monopoly, the laws of supply and demand don’t apply.
How many millions of dollars paid to these two companies by Maine residents are leaving Maine and going to Spain, Canada, and elsewhere? As governor, I will continue to support creation of a public, non-profit electric utility. Electricity is an absolute necessity for nearly all of the people of Maine and we should not be at the mercy of for profit, foreign corporations. I will support energy conservation to decrease demand relative to supply. I will support expanding electrical generating capacity through renewable means and I will encourage consideration of small scale nuclear power generating facilities. Maine must keep abreast of constantly changing technologies for wind, water, solar and nuclear power production. Regarding solar generation, facilities should be sited where they will do the least environmental and economic harm. Parking lots, rooftops, brownfields, etc. should be preferred locations. They should not be installed where they destroy or render inaccessible, valuable farmland.
The construction of hydroelectric dams has caused great environmental and economic harm by destroying wildlife habitat and blocking fish passage. I support removing the four lower dams on the Kennebec River given their relatively small contribution to the supply of electricity and the potential economic and environmental benefits of a free flowing river. I support removing or bypassing other hydroelectric dams as appropriate. I support installation of dam free kinetic hydropower facilities where they are suitable and create little or no environmental harm. https://blog.ansi.org/ansi/tidal-power-turbines-in-east-river/
Giant wind turbines are both an eyesore and a threat to wildlife. New technologies such as bladeless, are being developed that are far less visually and environmentally intrusive. Vertical wind turbines can also be an excellent supplement to solar panels on a small scale. I support properly sited, environmentally safe wind power. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/16/good-vibrations-bladeless-turbines-could-bring-wind-power-to-your-home
I support consideration of new nuclear generating facilities, especially small modular reactors. Their environmental impact (e.g. less water usage) is much less than traditional nuclear reactors. They should not be a preferred means of power generation, but their use should not be ruled out. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-are-small-modular-reactors-smrs
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