Hydropower continues to play a central role in the daily lives of many small towns across Maine. For over a century, hydropower facilities have provided steady work for families, especially in rural communities where jobs are harder to find. These facilities support families’ careers and keep paychecks close to home.

As assistant business manager of IBEW Local 1837, I represent the electricians and technicians who keep these plants running safely and reliably. In many cases, my counterparts head to work just minutes from their own front doors. They’re raising families nearby, coaching local teams, shopping locally and investing back into towns that rely on these facilities.

Our rivers fuel local economies, providing jobs, funding schools and supporting towns built alongside them. As Maine considers its energy future, it’s important to remember what currently works and for whom.

Today, Maine’s hydropower fleet is still doing exactly what it was built to do. It delivers renewable energy while sustaining good-paying jobs and providing stability that many communities rely on. Maine’s leaders in Washington should keep the workers, families and towns they represent front and center.

Leaders like Sen. Angus King should stand behind the hydropower resources that have served our communities for generations and ensure they can continue to do so for years to come. Strip that away, and we strip away generations of jobs and stability that Maine towns along these rivers have depended on for decades.

Joshua Hall
Manchester