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Making Fossil Fuel Companies Pay

Maine joins the growing list of states hoping to pass Climate Superfund laws to ensure fossil fuel companies pay for the damages they are causing.

This year Maine has a chance to pass a groundbreaking piece of climate legislation that would make polluters pay to help protect communities from the climate crisis. It’s pretty simple: Maine would create a Climate Superfund and fine big oil and gas companies to pay for the damage they caused. The money would also be used to fund projects that protect communities from storms, floods, and rising sea levels. Click here for a fact sheet with more details.

Big oil companies such as Exxon, Chevron, and Shell have known for decades that more fossil fuels would mean fiercer storms, more floods, homes destroyed, and lives lost. It’s time to join Vermont and New York in holding polluters accountable. We’ve heard that other states have similar legislation in the works as well.

Devastating storms have already impacted cities and towns across Maine. It’s only a matter of time before the next climate disaster comes. If polluters aren’t the ones paying for the damage, that leaves the people of Maine on the hook – again and again and again.

You can support the soon to be released Make Polluters Pay Act by signing this petition by Maine Conservation Voters.

The Climate Superfund is a 2025 priority action of Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition, a statewide alliance of 39 conservation, climate action, and public health organizations.

Flooding in Hallowell along the Kennebec River, December 2023. Photo: Deb Fahy.
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