John Nutting of Leeds served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1986-92 and the Maine State Senate from 1996-2002 and 2004-2010.

In Maine, we value hard work, practical solutions and getting things done without unnecessary delay. As a former dairy farmer and state senator who spent nearly two decades working on agriculture, forestry and rural development issues, I’ve seen how reliable, affordable energy is critical to families, businesses and the future of our local economy.

Today, as electricity demand rises and energy costs strain budgets, one truth has become clear: Maine’s working families urgently need federal permitting reform to unlock access to affordable energy. 

Across the country, outdated federal permitting laws are slowing down the very projects that could help lower energy prices, strengthen our grid and create new jobs. Whether it’s expanding pipeline infrastructure, modernizing transmission lines or advancing clean energy deployments, the process for building essential infrastructure has become unpredictable, overly litigious and far too slow. 

Maine has felt the consequences of these outdated laws more than most. About half of Maine households still rely on heating oil as their primary heat source, the highest rate in the country. And while we’ve made progress in managing these costs for families, prices remain volatile.

This fall, the average heating-oil price hovered around $3.44 per gallon, with some Mainers paying as much as $4.60 depending on location and delivery costs. Maine is also experiencing the largest electricity rate hikes of any state in the country, with prices rising more than 36% in the last year alone. For families whose budgets are already stretched thin, these rising costs are unsustainable.

At the same time, pipeline constraints and limited energy infrastructure in our region have forced New England to import liquefied natural gas, even while one of the world’s most prolific natural gas fields sits just a few hundred miles away in Pennsylvania. Today, LNG makes up more than 25% of supply for local gas utilities during peak winter conditions.

Access to affordable energy, including ever-cleaner natural gas, is often blocked not because of feasibility or environmental concerns, but by outdated and weaponized federal permitting laws. One example is the lack of certainty under the Clean Water Act, which has been tactfully used by activist groups to block pipelines based on political goals unrelated to water quality. That leaves Maine paying unnecessarily high prices and makes our winter energy supply more vulnerable.

Making matters worse, electricity demand is projected to surge in the coming years, driven by data centers, new manufacturing and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Maine is already seeing record adoption of high-efficiency heat pumps, a major contributor to our declining reliance on heating oil.

But these systems only deliver savings if the electric grid that powers them is reliable, affordable and built quickly enough to meet rising demand. Without permitting reform, we risk leaving families dependent on high-cost fuels simply because the infrastructure that would lower their bills can’t get approved.

Fortunately, there are promising bipartisan solutions on the table.

Rep. Jared Golden has long understood that our permitting system is stuck in the past, and he’s taking action. His bipartisan SPEED Act is a major breakthrough toward modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), reducing endless litigation and ensuring environmental reviews remain rigorous without dragging on for years. This kind of leadership is exactly what we need: thoughtful, balanced reform that clears a path for good projects while upholding the protections and transparency Mainers value.

Sen. Angus King has also been a consistent champion of responsible energy development and grid reliability. Working with him over the years, I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to practicality and problem-solving. That mindset is especially important now, as rural states like ours struggle with high energy costs and aging infrastructure.

For Mainers to be confident about an energy future that is affordable and reliable, we need a modernized permitting system. By embracing sensible federal reform, we can unlock our state’s full potential, strengthen our grid and create jobs that benefit communities across the state. With leaders like Rep. Golden and Sen. King working to push for meaningful change, there are reasons to be hopeful. Now is the time for action.