The Maine Energy Plan attempts to balance future electricity demand, clean energy supply, affordable heating options for consumers and sustainable jobs for workers. An Oct. 17 op-ed, “Maine needs a better plan for its electrical grid,” proposes a companion grid planning group to bring together private, public and nonprofit leaders to evaluate these interrelated issues and develop solutions that will benefit — and reduce harm — for Maine citizens and businesses.

With the reversal of direction on national energy policy, it is critical for Maine to focus on conflicts and opportunities that arise at the intersection of climate, clean energy and the economy.

We must not lose the momentum toward beneficial electrification in buildings and vehicles while the federal government limits investment in those technologies. We must continue to look for ways to develop the nascent offshore wind industry even if this sector is negatively targeted by the president.

We must continue to invest in local communities’ resilience and infrastructure even if climate incentives and programs are clawed back by Congress. We must all help transition Maine’s fossil-fuel workforce to a clean energy economy to ensure that jobs are transformed and not lost to the future. And, we must build new transmission at the pace and scale needed to keep up with our clean energy goals while ensuring that the new grid is smarter, more innovative and dynamic.

The need for sound electricity policies and projects will become even more critical with the expected explosion of electric vehicles and building heat pumps, data centers and artificial intelligence.

Jeff Marks
Portland