A coalition of Maine environmental and community health organizations have published a five-year policy guide outlining how Maine can address environmental challenges and opportunities ahead of this year’s pivotal elections for governor and Maine Legislature.

“Maine’s future leaders will be stepping into a critical moment for our environment, our health and the future we’re leaving to our children and grandchildren,” said Maureen Drouin, executive director of Maine Conservation Alliance. 

The report, titled “Meeting the Moment,” outlines specific policy actions, centered around five focus areas: land, water, and wildlife for future generations; healthy and prosperous communities; sovereign Wabanaki Nations; clean and affordable energy; and a government that works for everyone. 

“As we meet this moment, our public policies can and must respond to our changing world, reflect our shared values and use our environmental resources wisely,” Drouin said.

The report calls for protecting Maine’s waterways, wildlife habitats and natural and working land. The policy recommendations include establishing a secure funding source for lake and stream protection work, developing a statewide habitat and conservation preservation plan and reestablishing a cabinet position in the governor’s office for conservation.

“Maine’s natural heritage defines us,” said Eliza Townsend, director of the Maine chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club. “The value of Maine’s land, water and wildlife to our economy and our way of life is undeniable.”

The report cites an independent study that found 94% of Maine voters support proposals to guarantee public access to the North Woods and conserving land to protect water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational access. 

“Conserving land, protecting water quality and wildlife habitat, and preserving public access to trails, waters and Maine’s North Woods has got to be a priority,” Townsend said. “We need to make sure the next generation of young Mainers has the same opportunities to make a living and enjoy their free time in Maine’s great outdoors.”

The report calls for greater protections against toxic chemicals, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products, and the removal of firefighting foam containing the chemicals. It also calls on lawmakers to maintain the ban on the spreading of sludge, which was a key way PFAS were spread throughout the state.

“Change is going to happen,” said Nancy Smith, CEO of GrowSmart Maine. “It’s how we prepare for and navigate change that will determine the health and prosperity of our communities.”

The report also recommends growing the state’s Green Schools Network and the Outdoor Learning Initiative. 

“Maine’s next leaders have an important role to play in helping every community be healthy, prosperous and prepared,” Smith said.

Another key focus on the report was the need for the state to recognize the inherent sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations, calling on the state to work with Maine’s congressional delegation to make changes to federal law to achieve that recognition. It also recommends the state create an Office of Indigenous Studies within the Department of Education, provide schools funding to teach Wabanaki Studies and make curriculum a requirement for high school graduation. 

“The Wabanaki Nations have a more restrictive status than all other federally recognized tribes in the United States,” said Maulian Bryant, executive director of the Wabanaki Alliance. “This has resulted in lagging economic growth and missed opportunities for both tribal and non-tribal citizens, including thousands of lost jobs and millions of dollars in lost tax revenue. Restoring self-determination to the Wabanaki Nations is about doing what’s right, and it’s long overdue.”

The report cites the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, which found in 2022 that restoring sovereignty to the Wabanaki Nations would add $330 million a year to Maine’s gross domestic product and $39 million a year in state and local tax revenue.

Looking at energy, the report calls for capping private power utilities’ profits, and points to a January independent study that found that 87% of voters support a cap. 

“Too many people in Maine are struggling to afford their energy bills,” said Jack Shapiro, climate and clean energy director for Natural Resources Council of Maine. 

It also calls for onshore and offshore wind projects, which have been delayed or halted by the Trump administration. The report recommends requiring data centers to invest in local communities, and that the Maine Department of Energy Resources secure low-cost renewable energy for the grid. 

“Maine’s next leaders can make energy more affordable for everyone by building a more flexible electric grid, getting more low-cost clean energy online and holding utilities accountable for producing better results, not just more profits,” Shapiro said. 

In the final section, the report calls for a formal structure for youth and young adults to advise policymakers, with a new cabinet-level Youth Advisory Council. 

“When government is structured to put people and communities first, it’s good for our democracy and good for our environment,” said Amy Eshoo, director of Maine Climate Action Now. 

The guide also recommends establishing a system to hold polluters accountable, and impose penalties to support environmental protections; and growing Maine’s workforce to be able to implement environmental regulations.

“The reality is, community issues are often environmental justice issues, and better outcomes will result when we work together, across generations and life experiences, to connect the dots and prioritize the meeting of everyone’s basic needs,” Eshoo said.