Two first-term Democratic female legislators discussed their bills and early impressions of the 129th legislative session March 21 in Newcastle, but Gov. Janet Mills’ support of Central Maine Power’s corridor project garnered the most discussion from local Democrats. Mills, state Representatives Holly Stover of Boothbay and Chloe Maxmin of Nobleboro were swept into office last November, which saw Democrats seize control of the Blaine House and both legislative chambers.

Mills’ endorsement of CMP’s corridor project is the first crack in party unity. CMP wants to build a 145-mile transmission power line transporting hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts. Mills and CMP officials discussed the proposal, which resulted in the company and its partners promising to contribute roughly $258 million in Maine over 40 years to lower electric bills, advance clean-energy efforts, and fund other public and community benefits such as greater broadband access. 

But Lincoln County Democrats strongly urged legislators to oppose the deal. Locals believed the transmission line would increase greenhouse gas emissions and counter efforts to reduce the state’s carbon footprint. Maxmin, who represents Jefferson, Whitefield, Chelsea and part of Nobleboro, opposes the proposal. “I’m against the CMP corridor. It goes through Whitefield and the town approved it, but nobody I talk to supports it.”

Stover, who represents Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport, Edgecomb, Westport Island and part of South Bristol, agreed the study sponsored by state Sen. Brownie Carson, D-Cumberland,  would answer several questions about the project’s potential environmental impact. She shares Maxmin’s concerns about the project, but she believes CMP’s proposal is a hard choice for everyone involved. “I really think this was a difficult choice for the governor. I don’t want to speak for the  governor, nor have I talked to her about it. Looking at the deal, $240 million is very appealing. I’m not  saying that’s the reason, but I understand this is a difficult choice to make,” Stover said.

The proposed CMP corridor isn’t the only concern local Democrats had with the state’s largest public power utility. One Lincoln County Democrat asked, “What about the bill to take CMP back from the Spanish?” CMP is owned by AVANGRID Renewables, a Spanish-owned subsidiary. In the past year, CMP has been embroiled in controversy stemming from customer complaints about its meter accuracy and customer service. The controversy resulted in a public utilities commission investigation. 

The two legislators reported State Rep. Seth Berry, a Bowdoinham Democrat, has sponsored a bill for the state to buy Maine’s two investor-owned power utilities — CMP and Emera Maine. Both Maxmin and Stover believe the state could run the power companies better than the for profit utilities. “It would replace the two investor-based companies with one owned by consumers,” Maxmin said. “Around the state there are several owned by consumers who run them at a significantly reduced cost. And this bill has received considerable bipartisan support.”

The two legislators also spoke about bills they sponsored. Stover is on the Health and Human Services Committee. She is sponsoring nine bills. One is an Act to Eliminate Single Use Bags. Two other legislators submitted similar legislation and Stover reported the three are being morphed into a single bill. 

“This is something that 21 other Maine communities have adopted including Damariscotta,” she said. “This is about removing toxins from fish. Fish eat the bags and we eat the fish.”

She also discussed her bill which would add domestic violence victims to the Maine Human Rights Act. Stover described victims who’ve been harassed at work or in housing and need protection under the act.  “They face discrimination because an employer or landlord  believes there is too much trouble being involved with these situations. That’s not right, and that’s why I think they should be added,” she said.

Maxmin sponsored four bills. Her “Green New Deal” bill has already received considerable attention. Maxmin’s bill is different than the version being considered in the U.S. Congress. In Washington, D.C. the proposal is a non-binding resolution calling on the federal government to take specific steps, but lacks the force of law. In Maine, the bill would create a task force to develop a local Green New Deal. 

Maxmin said there will be costs for implementing the Maine Green New Deal, but could not say how much or how those costs should be paid. She did say there would be no carbon tax so there wouldn’t be an additional gas or heating fuel tax. Maxmin and the bill’s other sponsors will unveil its details at an early April press conference and the proposal would have an April 23 public hearing, said Maxmin. 

With the legislature considering several initiatives expanding the state’s role in government, Paula Arsenault of Boothbay asked how the legislators dealt with comments like “Get ready for socialism.”

“My jaw just drops when I hear that. What kind of a comeback do you have," Arsenault asked.

Both legislators said they’ve heard similar statements. “I don’t really have a comeback,” Stover said. “I’m like anyone else, am fiscally responsible and a responsible steward. I vote in my district’s best interests. I serve the people, and that’s my filter.”