As originally published in the Bangor Daily News on April 18, 2018.
Sen. Susan Collins has long been an advocate for American energy innovation. She demonstrated her commitment once again by ensuring that important research and development programs were included in the recent FY18 omnibus bill passed by Congress.
Although the final budget is far from perfect, it does invest in key initiatives at the U.S. Department of Energy, especially the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Among the energy priorities covered are grid modernization and cyber security. Research activities will also advance clean energy technologies like solar energy and hydropower, which have consistently proven to be cost-effective and deliver significant returns on investment over the long term.
Maine is currently New England’s largest producer of renewable energy, so it stands to benefit more than other states when federal dollars are dedicated to such efforts. I thank Collins for her leadership and her vote on this budget, and I commend her unwavering support for clean energy throughout her career.
-Heather Reams