Mills: Offshore drilling not a fit with Maine's resources and economy
Photo / James McCarthy
A lobster boat heads out to sea from the harbor on Swan's Island. On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills said that work by the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition to promote an expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling “is incompatible with Maine's interests.” She stated that Maine, therefore, would not participate in the coalition.
Gov. Janet Mills said Monday that work by the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition to promote an expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling “is incompatible with Maine’s interests.”
As a result, the state of Maine will not participate in the coalition, Mills announced in a Feb. 25 news release.
In a letter to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, the coalition’s chair, Mills emphasized Maine’s bipartisan opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling and her commitment to protecting Maine’s coastline, marine resources and ocean economy.
“Maine’s renowned coastline, with its clean water, beautiful beaches, and abundant marine resources is a unique asset supporting some of the State’s most important industries, most notably tourism and commercial fisheries,” Mills wrote. “Fifty-four percent of Mainers live in coastal counties, and the jobs of many Mainers are directly or indirectly tied to our coastal economy. The 46,000 jobs that Maine’s ocean economy provides would be jeopardized by oil and gas drilling activities off our coast.”
Maine’s congressional delegation is also opposed to offshore oil and gas drilling. The Maine House of Representatives and Senate voted unanimously last year to pass a joint resolution declaring that oil and gas drilling and exploration off Maine’s coast would endanger commercial fishing jobs and be an ecological and economic disaster for Maine.
“The Maine coast also includes Acadia National Park, thirteen state parks, the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge Complex and the Passamaquoddy Indian Reservation,” added Mills. “These special places are not only environmentally sensitive, but also have great social and cultural significance. I cannot accept the risk that they could be despoiled.”
Mills vowed to work with governors from coastal states to fight federal proposals to open the waters off the Maine coast to offshore oil and gas drilling.
The Maine Legislature and congressional delegation have previously expressed opposition to offshore drilling, in response to the Trump administration’s proposed expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing to encompass around 90% of domestic coastlines.
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