Maine’s environment is one of our greatest economic resources. In many parts of our state, natural resources remain the best opportunity for good jobs and a better future. For me, that means environmental protection goes hand in hand with a strong economy. Protecting our resources and ensuring their sustainable use is a trust any Governor must honor.

At times some folks confuse environmental protection with preventing growth – Angus King famously said that today God couldn’t get a permit from state regulators to create the tides.  My commitment as Governor will be to vigorously protect our environment and to grow our economy. I believe those commitments are mutually supportive, not contradictory.

But I need to tell you this, too: Where environmental and land use rules and regulations become unnecessary barriers preventing responsible growth of jobs and communities, I’ll make sure those barriers are taken away. And where companies like Poland Spring are working to bring renewable natural resource-based jobs to our state, I’ll fight for those jobs, and fight against no-growth opponents that try to take away good jobs from places in Maine that need, and deserve, a chance at a better future.