Energy and the Environment
As stewards of our natural environment, we have an obligation to leave our children a healthy and thriving planet. To honor this environmental imperative, our national energy policy must promote the responsible use of domestic resources in a way that promises their continued existence. Crafting such a policy requires us to recognize that there is no silver bullet, and in the near term, a “Made-in-America” strategy includes a combination of improved efficiency, smarter use of fuels, and increased domestic production of oil, gas, and renewables.
- Energy. Energy conservation, energy efficiency, and domestic energy production will lead us to a realistic American energy policy that can create jobs and keep our energy dollars at home. Maine is well positioned to contribute to this growing clean-energy economy – we have ample hydropower, onshore wind, and biomass resources. Maine is also proud to have the first-in-the-nation tidal power turbine and soon the first floating offshore wind turbines. While we cannot yet fully rely on renewable fuels, any new developments in the fossil-fuel industry must be subject to all appropriate environmental safeguards.
- I have introduced legislation, cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), that recognizes and promotes the economic and environmental benefits of biomass thermal energy. The Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013, or BTU Act, would amend the federal tax code to incentivize biomass energy, as it already does for several other forms of renewable energy. In Maine, thermal biomass systems are primarily wood pellet boilers. As compared to oil heat, these systems offer an affordable, locally-grown heating option that reinvests a maximum amount of heating dollars into our communities. Currently, a host of renewable energy technologies qualify for investment tax credits for capital costs incurred in residential and commercial installations. This legislation seeks to achieve parity between those renewable systems and thermal biomass systems.
- Environment. I am committed to protecting the integrity of Maine’s environment and that of the Nation – and to providing access to it. Outdoor recreation is not only an important part of our cultural history, but is also a pillar of our state economy. Every year people from across the country come to visit and enjoy all that our mountains, rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways have to offer.
- I have recently co-sponsored legislation to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund to support more land conservation. I have also co-sponsored the Mercury Use Reduction Act, and am an original cosponsor of the Safe Chemicals Act, which serve to help better manage exposure to dangerous chemicals that we encounter every day. Throughout my two terms as Governor, I was proud to champion a number of energy and conservation initiatives. These include establishing the most robust mercury and dioxin quotas in the nation to help improve the quality of Maine’s air and water. As a U.S. Senator, I will continue the environmental protection legacy that I began as Governor.
- I recently introduced legislation that would authorize a muli-year study of the York River to determine whether it is eligible to be designated as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River by the National Parks Service. The York River is an important resource for our local communities and serves as an economic anchor for our commercial fisherman, hunters, and recreational boaters. A special designation would allow Maine to access federal funding and other resources to better preserve its economic and environmental value.
- I am a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, a coalition of lawmakers who are created to raise the public profile on the issue of climate change and pursue legislative action to mitigate its effects. Maine fishermen, farmers, and foresters are starting to feel the impacts of a changing environment and I am committed to working with them to help solve this issue.
- Ensuring accurate flood mapping. In an effort to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood mapping process, I wrote a letter to FEMA urging the agency to adopt a more thorough and transparent approach to its appeals process and to openly welcome data provided by municipalities to establish greater accuracy of reflect flood risk. In addition, I successfully put an amendment in the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act which would make communities eligible for the costs of successfully appealing inaccurate FEMA maps. On such an important issue, the government needs to get the science right the first time.
