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One of the successes of the recent Maine legislative session was the passage of LD 1870, known as the Make Polluters Pay bill. The law will help fund a study to determine the costs to Maine of climate-related damage from 1995 to 2024. Billion-dollar climate related events in the U.S. have increased alarmingly since 1980 (three events) and 2024 ( 27 events).
I believe the next step will be to create a fund into which major fossil fuel companies like Chevron, Exxon-Mobil and BP will contribute to help pay the costs of the damage caused by burning their products.
These companies and other fossil fuel companies are currently reaping war profits estimated at $30 million an hour, and we are paying. How does that feel?
Likewise, when it comes to climate-related damage, we are paying the cost and enabling them to continue to make huge profits. The proposed law could reduce those windfall profits by requiring accountability. There is a precedent. We made the cigarette companies pay for the damage they inflicted on our health.
Unfortunately, petroleum lobbyists are asking Congress to pass the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026. The bill would give them immunity from having to be held responsible for wrecking our planet, and it would nullify all state efforts to recover costs.
Maine voters will be deciding in November on which U.S. House and Senate candidates will say no to letting major fossil fuel companies off the hook.
Tom Mikulka
Cape Elizabeth