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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 27 J U N E 1 5 , 2 0 2 6 MB: Is there room for these activities? MD: e Gulf of Maine is pretty big. [Laughs.] MB: What about on land? MD: I think there's some room. Technology has shrunk the foot- print of the machinery you need. I want big ideas — I'm not worried about how big the machine. And I want people to look at the Gulf of Maine as a resource that we can manage and preserve to give Portland the economic growth it once had. MB: Could you ever envision a data center in Portland? MD: ere's not going to be an initiative from City Hall, that'll be an initiative from the private sec- tor. Some Councilors are already concerned about it, that they'll probably put a moratorium on it — they're anxious given the debate at the federal and state level. MB: Where do you stand on Portland's Inclusionary Zoning fee? MD: I've been consistent to say we should significantly reduce it. By relaxing the IZ constraint, my hope is that it'll spur construc- tion units that will be amenable to the interests of moderate income and family income. I grew up in an apartment building, so I didn't know what the big deal was about having your own home. MB: What was that like, growing up in Lewiston? MD: In an apartment house, every family was watching out for other families. We all knew the rhythms of our lives in a way that when you lived in a detached structure you don't necessarily experience. Neither one is right or wrong, but they both add to the quality of the community. at's why I'd like to see a reduction in the IZ zone quotient. MB: Would you ever consider taking an office in state or federal government? MD: I'm just doing the job I have right now. MB: Portland is often critized for being unfriendly to business. What's your response? MD: My job is to assure people if they're willing to take a risk in the city of Portland, I'm willing to minimize that risk to the best of my ability and to advocate on their behalf before the Council. MB: What's your final message about Portland as a place to do business? MD: I'm about as pro-business a mayor as you're going to get, because I think that's the lifeblood that makes everything else work. If you go to a struggling community, what's absent? Any visible business sector, because businesspeople sink roots. ey're not just doing their business – they're participating in community ventures and organiza- tions. ey invest sweat equity and soul. How could you possibly not want to help people that want to do that work? I'm about as pro-business a mayor as you're going to get, because I think that's the lifeblood that makes everything else work. Lower Your Energy Costs with Efficiency Upgrades Efficiency Maine rebates help Maine businesses make the switch to high-efficiency systems. Rebate-eligible energy efficiency solutions can help Maine businesses, non-profits, multifamily and mixed-use buildings, schools, and municipalities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and increase long-term energy savings. Solutions include qualifying heat pumps for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; biomass heating systems; water heating; compressed air system components; refrigeration equipment; lighting retrofits; and more. Learn more about Efficiency Maine's rebates for the commercial and industrial sectors at efficiencymaine.com/at-work. Scan the QR code to access the link.

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