Weekly Radio Address: Alfond says: Governor LePage sent a message to the business community that a handshake and a deal mean nothing

Weekly Radio Address: Senate President Justin Alfond

It’s not often that Maine, or frankly any state, has an opportunity to become the home, the hub, of a worldwide innovator.

It’s not often that Maine has a billion dollar company knocking on our door promising hundreds of millions of dollars in investment; hundreds of jobs in a cutting edge industry; and, long-term collaboration with some of our most reputable local businesses like BIW and Reed and Reed.

Well, opportunity knocked.

Good Morning. This is Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland.

Earlier this year, Maine made a commitment to Statoil, a Norwegian energy innovator, to develop a $200 million ocean energy project. Some compared Statoil’s project as “the next Google or Apple for the state of Maine.”

A legacy industry.

Much like lumber, lobster, and blueberries, Maine is rich in another natural resource: wind. It’s a resource that you can’t grow or harvest. Either you have it or you don’t—and Maine has it. And those in the burgeoning energy industry want it because wind is the energy generator of the future.

Statoil is an international expert in the manufacturing and production of wind energy solutions; and, they began courting Maine more than two years ago. Along the way, they have invested more than $3 million in Maine preparing for its bid and eventual contract to build a first-of-its-kind floating wind turbine in deep water off the shore of Boothbay Harbor.

And then the project came to a screeching halt.

Last week, Statoil pulled out and terminated its investment in Maine.

Why?

Not because the wind stopped blowing.

Not because they weren’t over the moon with the quality and caliber of our workforce and the local, on the ground partnerships they established. But instead, because of “political uncertainty.”

To some, Statoil’s decision was not a surprise; the writing was on the wall after a series of political hijinks orchestrated by Governor LePage.

The proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” came late in the legislative session when Governor LePage spearheaded a measure that undermined and jeopardized the existing agreement between the state and Statoil by reopening the bidding process and putting Statoil’s project on hold.

Governor LePage yanked out the welcome mat and changed the rules of the game. Not only did this essentially close the door on Statoil’s development, but it was also a huge step backward for crucial energy policy for the state of Maine.

But this too comes at no surprise. Governor LePage’s contempt for wind power is well-known—even though in every corner of the state, Mainers overwhelming support wind power.

But to be clear, the devastation of this broken deal is not about how you feel about wind. It’s about the irreversible damage and blow to Maine’s business reputation: It’s a message that Maine doesn’t keep its promises. It’s a message of bad faith. It’s a message that a handshake and a deal mean nothing—even if you want to invest millions in our state. This is a terrible message to send to the rest of the country, or in this case, to the world.

Thank you for listening. This is Senate President Justin Alfond. Have a great weekend.

###