The candidates vying for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District both say they want Americans using homegrown energy, and neither dispute a need for power to come from cleaner sources. 

But they disagree on how to get there. 

Maine Morning Star asked the candidates where they stand on certain aspects of environmental and energy policy, specifically offshore wind and the electrification of transportation. Both topics have dominated conversations in Maine, splitting the parties with Democrats largely supporting the move toward more renewable energy sources and Republicans pushing back, citing concerns about high cost burdens on ratepayers. 

Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault, who is looking to unseat Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, did not respond to specific questions from the Morning Star, so details about his stance were compiled through social media posts and his statements during a series of televised debates. 

In the debates, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden repeatedly defended his vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided significant funding and incentives for states to accelerate the transition to clean energy.  

Golden believes in an “all-of-the-above” approach for American energy sources. His campaign said the congressman liked that the Inflation Reduction Act paired gas and oil usage with funding for more solar and wind infrastructure because it continued progress on renewable energy, while lowering costs and protecting jobs. 

Though he has called the Inflation Reduction Act a “green scam,” Theriault said during a debate that he would reform energy policy to bring more clean, American-made energy online without increasing costs for ratepayers. 

During the second debate, he specified that if the U.S. wants to adopt more sustainable power generation, he believes nuclear is the most appropriate form. However, he said he could not answer whether he would support the construction of a nuclear power plant in Maine. 

“We’re getting ahead of ourselves there,” Theriault said. 

According to ISO New England, nuclear generated about one-fifth of the electricity used in 2023. There are two nuclear power plants in the region with the closest one on the coast of New Hampshire. 

By the final debate between the candidates, Theriault used the same language Golden used in a previous debate saying that he too wants an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy policy. 

Offshore wind 

Efforts are underway to move forward with the goal outlined in Maine law for the development of an offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Maine capable of producing three gigawatts of energy by 2040. 

At the end of October, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will auction commercial leases off the coast of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. And the state of Maine has already reached an agreement with the agency for a research array with up to 12 floating turbines. 

Theriault has spoken in opposition to offshore wind, claiming it will decimate Maine’s lobster industry and, again, calling out Golden’s support of the Inflation Reduction Act that includes tax credits and other incentives for wind energy projects. 

Golden pushed back during one of the debates saying that offshore wind is a state-level issue and that increases on ratepayers are the result of how legislation was drafted by the state legislature.

Both candidates have talked about wanting to protect the lobster industry from being negatively impacted by wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. 

Golden joined the rest of Maine’s congressional delegation and Gov. Janet Mills in a  successful effort to exclude a vital lobster fishing area, known as Lobster Management Area 1, from wind development. 

The 2nd District also has a declared, unenrolled write-in candidate, Diana Merenda. Maine Morning Star asked her the same questions as the candidates who will appear on the ballot. 

In regards to offshore wind, Merenda cited her experience working for a Germany-based global firm. During a trip to Frankfurt, she said she was blown away by the level of energy awareness and concern by ordinary citizens there. 

“The USA is not even close to the level of support for ‘clean energy sources’ that we not only should but must have,” Merenda said. “We owe it to our children or we fail as stewards of this great land.” 

Electrifying transportation

Earlier this year, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection considered, but ultimately rejected, the Advanced Clean Cars II Act, which would have required 82% of new vehicles sold in the state to be electric by 2032. 

The rule originated in California and has been adopted by more than a dozen states since, including New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. The rule would not affect existing cars in the state. 

Golden’s campaign said that he believes “Mainers deserve a policy that works in Maine, not just in California,” going on to say that electrification is challenging for Maine because of its weather and low population density. 

Golden “opposes efforts to push Mainers into vehicle purchases that don’t make sense for them,” his campaign said. 

Theriault has also spoken in opposition to the Advanced Clean Cars II Act, which he described as an “EV mandate.” After the rule was rejected, Theriault posted on social media, thanking everyone who opposed the “tyrannical idea.”

Again, Theriault did not respond to questions from Maine Morning Star about his position on tax credits for electric vehicle purchases. 

Additionally, Maine has received millions of dollars from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deploy electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state and pilot an electric ferry program. 

Having voted in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Golden’s campaign said the congressman believes that any taxpayer dollars spent on electric vehicle infrastructure must be on American-made components. 

The Inflation Reduction Act also provides up to $7,500 in tax credits for people who purchase electric vehicles. To be eligible for the new clean vehicle tax credit, joint filers need to earn $300,000 or less and heads of household filers can’t earn more than $225,000. 

Golden’s campaign said he would like to see Congress lower the income cap for those credits because “households making $300,000 a year don’t need a tax break from the government to buy a new EV.” 

Additionally, Golden believes the credits should only be available to people buying cars that meet the requirements laid out in the Inflation Reduction Act for the use of domestic materials.

If she had been in Congress, Merenda said she would have supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its efforts to electrify transportation. She added that she is absolutely in support of continuing those efforts and “100%” behind tax credits for electric vehicle purchases. 

Curious where other candidates for federal office stand on these issues. Read more about those running for the 1st Congressional District and the U.S. Senate.