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| 📷 Rep. Scott Landry, D-Farmington, left, greets Sen. Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, on Jan. 8, 2020, at the State House in Augusta. (AP photo by Robert F. Bukaty) |
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🤝 Rival Aroostook politicians are in array on a massive energy project.
◉ A large wind transmission line slated for Aroostook County has strong public support in Maine, where Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, joined Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, in support of the proposal in comments filed with the Maine Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday.
◉ "The Maine PUC has an opportunity to address a long-standing challenge with connectivity to Aroostook County and through the process create highly skilled jobs, new tax revenue and future opportunity within the region by added transmission capacity," Stewart said.
◉ A milestone came earlier this month when Massachusetts committed to fund up to 40 percent of the project, which would establish a connection between Aroostook and the regional power grid. Jackson sponsored the measure that led to the project and has been a vocal proponent throughout the process.
◉ The alliance between Jackson and Stewart makes sense in a parochial way since they represent neighboring districts, but they are also top rivals. During Jackson's heated reelection race, Stewart raised eyebrows among observers and angered Jackson and his allies by calling the Senate president "corrupt."
🌬️ Environmentalists want the state to buy lots of offshore wind power.
◉ Maine's energy regulator would have to buy 2.8 gigawatts of offshore wind over the next 12 years under a measure rolled out by environmental groups on Tuesday. That amount would be enough to power 980,000 homes.
◉ The major forces behind the measure include Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, the co-chair of the Legislature's energy panel, as well as the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Conservation Voters and the major union representing building and construction tradesmen in Maine.
◉ The state has been a leader in offshore wind development, with the University of Maine playing a major role in testing and exploring it. Earlier this month, a key test array led by the university slated for 45 miles off the coast of Portland cleared a federal hurdle. There has been tension between the administration of Gov. Janet Mills and fishermen on the topic, however. |
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What we're reading
🔧 Brewer police are behind a Republican lawmaker's bid to tighten gun laws.
📦 A moving company that threatened customers leaving negative reviews online settled its lawsuit with the state for $125,000.
⚡ Smart meters are safe, Maine's high court said in a ruling that could end a long dispute between utilities and activists.
❄️ Bangor just broke a single-day snowfall record at 10.5 inches.
💤 Maine's famous seal was probably trying to sleep. Here's your soundtrack. |
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