VOTE COULD END NE CLIMATE FIGHT

Maine and New England Stew Over Climate and Energy Projects
Christa Marshall, November 1, 2010 (NY Times)

"…The outcome of the [Maine Governor’s] race among Republican climate skeptic Paul LePage, Democrat Libby Mitchell and independent candidates, analysts say, could determine the state's role in the nation's only cap-and-trade system, operating in the Northeast. It also is an example of the political intensity hovering over the region…as governor's races from Maine to Connecticut rank as tossup contests…

"…The next [Maine] governor will hold sway over how the state regulates and finances energy projects, as well as its degree of participation in negotiations over low-carbon fuel standards and other regional initiatives…LePage is likely to win because of a split vote between liberal-leaning voters wavering between Mitchell and Cutler…At debates…Cutler and Mitchell expressed concern about climate change and praised the Northeastern states' regional cap-and-trade program, known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. LePage fielded questions about his prior comments questioning climate science while raising concerns about energy costs associated with wind and solar power…Cutler and Mitchell said they supported 2010 goals set by the state Legislature for 3,000 megawatts of wind in the next decade…"

How can Maine elect somebody who is not committed to developing this wealth? (click to enlarge)

"…LePage said no, citing the challenges of storing wind power…[He favors natural gas which] currently fires about 44 percent of Maine's electricity, with hydroelectric dams and other renewables powering 50 percent…The state Department of Environmental Protection is too adversarial to the private sector, LePage said at another debate…Nuclear and additional hydroelectric power, as well as offshore drilling off of Maine's coast, need to be under consideration along with renewables, he said. The state has torn down too many hydroelectric dams, he said, referring to closings to protect fish…

"Cutler called the idea of offshore drilling in Maine waters "absolutely nuts." He pushed for creation of a financing authority to construct energy infrastructure and invest in renewable and natural gas projects. He questioned whether LePage's support of increased natural gas to decrease state dependence on home heating oil would work without such a financing authority to build gas pipelines."

They were going to stand together but the wrong leaders could let them go down separately. (click to enlarge)

"Mitchell said…renewables such as offshore wind could displace "the need for 30 nuclear power plants," echoing environmentalists' charges against LePage over the nuclear issue. She [said she was for fighting] climate change without a prompt…[and mentioned the jobs that could from it] when asked about state job creation. When queried about the state's future fuel mix, she immediately turned to RGGI, which has been capping carbon dioxide emissions in the Northeast since 2008 by requiring utilities to participate in carbon auctions…

"…Mitchell's frequent mentions of climate change are [seen as] a smart political strategy, since environmental activism is popular in the state. He said it is a way of reminding voters of a LePage "weakness" -- his former comments about global warming that are contrary to the views of most scientists…LePage also has called for abolishing the Department of Energy and U.S. EPA…LePage hasn't outlined his position on RGGI or the state's existing greenhouse gas targets, but his comments raise questions about how aggressively his administration would participate in RGGI…"