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Energy policy viscerally impacts families, businesses and communities in Aroostook County and across northern Maine. We really feel it during these cold winters when the heating bills stack up. That’s when reliability and affordability matter the most.
Sen. Susan Collins deserves a lot of credit for the way she’s handled energy policy in Washington. Her no-nonsense approach has helped keep energy more affordable and reliable. That goes a long way for us, particularly in our state’s more remote, rural communities.
Towns and communities throughout northern Maine are farther from major population centers, making energy transmission and storage major areas of concern. We also often deal with harsher weather. When the power goes out or prices go up, it hits our communities hardest.
Collins understands this. That shows up in the policies she backs. Her support for battery storage technologies is especially important for Maine families and businesses because storage offers the potential to strengthen the reliability of our electric infrastructure. That matters when demand spikes during a cold snap or storms roll through. Energy storage technologies keep the lights on and local economies running.
I’m grateful to Sen. Collins and applaud her work in Washington to advance smart energy policies that put Maine communities, particularly those throughout Aroostook County, first.
Sen. Sue Bernard
Caribou