Environmental Policy Guide 2026-2031

Energy prices are already too high in Maine, and they are continuing to rise. For too long, we have been overdependent on dirty, out of state fossil fuels to generate electricity, heat our homes, and power our vehicles. We need to modernize our energy infrastructure and make deeper investments in homegrown clean energy solutions that lower costs and put good jobs in our communities. Maine’s next leaders can make energy more affordable for everyone by building a smarter, more flexible electric grid; getting more low-cost renewable energy online; holding utilities accountable for producing better results, not just bigger profits; and by tackling the clean energy goals already established in Maine’s Climate Action Plan. Transportation requires a similar focus and alignment with Maine’s climate goals. Reducing emissions and bringing down transportation costs by investing in a more interconnected, active, and electrified transportation system must be a priority. Redesigning our energy and transportation systems in ways that are accessible and affordable will create a more just and sustainable future for all of us.

Maine’s land, water, and wildlife define us. Our mountains, rivers, forests, and coastlines support our economy, our health, and our recreation and relaxation. These natural assets also play an important role in addressing two global challenges – climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Maine’s immense forest absorbs and stores more than half of Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions while supporting a wide variety of plants and animals. Maine’s lake and river ecosystems support wildlife and wildlife habitats, as well as our outdoor economy. More than half of Maine people get their drinking water from a Maine lake. But the pressures on Maine’s natural resources continue to mount. Habitat fragmentation and loss are the number one threats to wildlife in Maine. Climate change is eroding soils and spreading invasive species in our lakes. And development pressures, including the growing need for housing and the increased demand for access to the outdoors, make it more important than ever to safeguard Maine’s remarkable land and waters. Maine’s next leaders must ensure our land, water, and wildlife, and the quality of life they can provide, are available to everyone in every Maine community.

Maine people believe in fairness. We take pride in standing up and standing together to do what’s right. Restoring self-determination and self-governance to the Wabanaki Nations must be a top priority for Maine’s next leaders. Because of serious flaws in the Maine Indian Claims Settlement of 1980, the Mi’kmaq Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Penobscot Nation, are excluded from the rights, powers, and protections guaranteed to all other federally recognized tribes. The Wabanaki Nations are being denied the inherent right to govern themselves. As a result of this unfairness, the tribes in Maine face barriers to purchasing land, accessing health care, protecting drinking water, regulating hunting and fishing, and integrating cultural values and practices within tribal laws and court structures. Restoration of the Wabanaki Nations’ sovereign rights will build trust between governments and create mutually beneficial opportunities for economic development, environmental protections, and improved health and well-being. Across generations, we can all benefit from learning about and from the people who’ve lived and thrived in Maine for millennia.

No matter its size or location, each Maine community grapples with complex issues that impact the health of its residents, the quality of its schools, the delivery of public services, and the vibrancy of its economy. Maine communities are often the first to be impacted by state and federal policy changes, forcing them to find innovative ways to maintain services and respond to emerging needs. Luckily, Maine people and communities have never lost the instinct for coming together to fix what’s broken – all with hard work, creativity, and kindness. Maine communities understand intuitively that we are all responsible for each other, and for the world around us. Unfortunately, polluting and poisoning industries have long ignored the reality of our interconnected lives. Maine’s next leaders need to ensure polluting industries pay for the harm they cause while helping communities keep toxins out of food and drinking water, manage growth thoughtfully, maintain recycling and product stewardship programs, and provide opportunities for outdoor education and experiences.

We need new ways of working that put people and communities first. We need our government systems to reflect our shared values, our changing world, and the challenges and opportunities we now face. We can do so much more to increase satisfaction and civic pride in the decisions we make together. It’s time to invest in ourselves and our democracy by reinvigorating and modernizing our systems for connecting, listening, collaborating, and problem-solving across generations, regions, and perspectives. Maine’s environmental policies will be among the first to improve when we put people and communities first. Maine’s next leaders must ensure there is sustained funding and financial stability for our environmental priorities, including land conservation and a fully staffed environmental workforce. Working in new ways with the resources and capacity needed, we can utilize our environmental resources wisely, address deeply rooted challenges, explore emerging opportunities, and create the future we hope to leave to our children and grandchildren.