Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U N E 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 bernsteinshur.com Be smart. BE SHUR. When you need a lawyer who thinks like an executive and speaks like a human. From the Editor F or this issue's focus on energy and the environ- ment, Senior Writer Maureen Milliken headed to Indian Township in Washington County, where the Passamaquoddy tribe is looking at ways to develop the area's economy and create jobs for the 3,200-member nation. Indian Township Enterprises, the tribe's busi- ness arm, plans to build a biomass plant that could produce power, biofuel and activated carbon. It hopes to produce enough energy that it could sell it excess capacity to area municipalities or manufacturers. Maureen's story starts on Page 20. Partnerships of this kind are in the works on a large- and small-scale, ranging from CMP's pro- posal to build a $950 million transmission line to link Quebec Hydropower to customers in Massachusetts to the Fox Island Power Co.'s selling of excess capac- ity from its three wind turbines to customers on the mainland. A groundbreaking solar bill signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills also promises to jump start more of these partnerships. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz CORRECTION: Because of an editing error, a commentary in the print edition of June 10, "Why this native Mainer moved out of Maine," author's first name was misspelled. It should have been Conner, not Connor. I just read the June 10 commentary Mainebiz posted by Conner Drigotas, "Why this native Mainer moved out of Maine." e piece is filled with vague refer- ences to being unable to obtain work in the state, and how unfriendly it is to business, without providing any actual examples. Nor does he acknowledge the many breaks businesses are given in Maine. I was curious about his agenda and, after some quick Googling, found out that he publicly identifies as libertarian and works as the communication director for a law firm that gives legal help "to those hurt by public-sector union officials." is seems like important context Mainebiz could give when posting such a piece. Lauren McCauley Editor, Beacon Re: "Why this native Mainer moved out of Maine," I cannot believe all the things that you say in your column — almost all of them without ANY corroborative information. We have entered a new era in Maine with the election of Gov. Janet Mills, who has pledged "no new taxes" during the next legislative session. Your repeated statements about how the state is deep into "spend first, hope for the best later" and "increasing taxes, leading to migration out of Maine, while Augusta increases spending" are unpleasant echoes of Gov. Paul LePage's eight years in office. He did essentially nothing to address the concerns you cite. I have spent a career as a consultant to small businesses — first in New Hampshire and for the last 28 years in Maine — and can attest to the fact that some of what you say is true. ere is too much out-migration and not enough in-migration of people who grew up in Maine, I think that presently there are more good jobs available in this state than at any time I have lived here. Augusta is not "getting in the way" and "not creating a bigger bureaucracy" these days. More is being done to be business-friendly than in all the years that I have lived in the state. If you want to rant against Maine, I suggest that you support your point of view with some facts and not just personal diatribes. Stephen Jenks To the Editor Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our top content for the weeks between June 3 and 17. 1. Rural brewers craft a niche by tapping into a new business model 2. MMC expansion receives $10.5M in pledges, including largest-ever family donation 3. Next act dawns for historic Ogunquit Playhouse after voters back zoning change 4. Maine loggers and wood haulers gain right to bargain collectively 5. Mass. business expansion to Katahdin region will add 30 jobs 6. Portland-area properties seized by U.S. Marshal's Office selling quickly 7. Top businesses feted at 20th annual Maine Family Business Awards gala 8. French company brings glamping to Sanford 9. One tiny house, one big housing idea Downeast 10. Innkeepers who love the lifestyle must also adapt to hospitality's changing demands P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R 1 Partnerships are key to shifting energy needs Commentary from ex-Mainer sparks reaction

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