To the editor:
In January 2024, just after the two historical havoc-wreaking storms, I was an intern with the Department of Environmental Protection. We were on a trip to visit past oil remediation sites, one of which was Willard Beach in South Portland. Instead of talking about oil spills, we began walking across the littered beach, observing broken pieces of fence and stray wooden planks. A group of civilians immediately approached us, noticing our clipboards and hats. They were all homeowners in the area and had a million questions: Who would cover the cost of damages? How can they protect their property in the future? How long until these damages can be fixed? Is there some sort of action plan?
Gazing across the beach to where the old fishing shacks were, I knew I didn’t have answers to their questions.
But now we do.
Through LD 1870: the Maine Climate Superfund, Maine citizens wouldn’t have to shoulder the costs of damages caused by climate change—polluters would. In 2024, Maine had $90 million in damages to public infrastructure alone, not even accounting for private property. By assigning a dollar value to our state’s climate damages and charging Maine’s largest polluters, we would create the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program. This fund would support recovery costs and strengthen Maine’s adaptability to climate change.
Keep Maine protected. Keep Maine healthy. Support LD 1870: Maine Climate Superfund.
Amanda Nicholson
Limestone
