US Army Corps of Engineers - CMP Hearing
Public Hearing Comments 12/5/19
I am young, active in the outdoors and environmentally conscious, and I believe our economic future depends on our ability to draw more young people like me to live, work and start businesses here in Maine. Population growth and the attractiveness of Maine depends on how well we protect and promote what defines us – our environment and the unique natural beauty of Maine. Our tourism industry depends on it, and as our Governor says, the health of every Mainer depends on it.
I was born and raised in Maine. My sisters and I grew up swimming and hiking in the mountains and lakes of western Maine. We developed an appreciation for clean water, mountaintops and the peaceful, pristine serenity unique to our state.
I think we took this for granted. Probably a lot of us do. Then last year, I thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. I walked 2200 miles, alone, through 14 states, from Georgia to Maine (MY HOME).
My journey was incredible, but I saw firsthand the impact of power transmission lines. I walked under them and heard the “BZZZZZ” of high voltage. I will not forget the images still clear in my mind of how they cut through the landscape and mountain ranges ahead. I saw how they disrupted wildlife habitat and scenic character. It was a complete contrast to the wild, pure, and awe-inspiring outdoors I had grown up with in Maine.
My name is Chloe Rowse. I am an environmentalist, Registered Maine Guide, Wilderness First Responder, and Founder and Director of a small, Maine-based non-profit. We run a summer camp for girls about an hour northwest of here. My career – and my life – are rooted in the health of the Maine outdoors. I am here to defend what all of us love about Maine, and what we cannot afford to lose.
After almost four months hiking alone through 13 states, I joyfully entered Maine. It was amazing to me how different it felt. Almost all thru-hikers of the Appalachian Trail will tell you the same thing – Maine has a kind of rugged, untouched beauty that you don’t see anywhere else, not even in the White Mountains of NH. Maine’s wilderness is unusual. This high-voltage power line is proposed to cross the Appalachian Trail in Maine THREE TIMES. I live and work here because I love Maine. To destroy what Mainers are so proud of would be a profound loss to our entire state. No amount of money can change that.
Why should Mainers, who value the beauty and importance of our natural environment, allow Hydro Quebec and CMP to cut through OUR forests, to crisscross the Appalachian Trail THREE times in OUR state, to literally undermine one of the most spectacular rivers in this country, to build high voltage power lines so Massachusetts can meet its own self-imposed energy requirements? Why does it feel like we’re being bought? When I ask what Maine gets out of this, all I hear about is money. Would you give up what defines you – your values, your family, what you believe in – for money? Mainers are not like that. We are not blind and we cannot be bought. Maine needs to entice more young people like me to come here, and to stay here. Our unique natural environment can do that, but we need to protect it – now more than ever.
In an aging state, the outdoors is one of our greatest assets to help bring young people and businesses to Maine. It is in the public interest to protect this sacred resource. As I said, I am an environmentalist; I know we need to take action to reduce the creation of greenhouse gases that aggravate climate change, but this is not the solution. We can do so much better. Thank you.
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