Representative Reagan Paul

24/10/2026

New White House proclamation: Imports of wind turbines and their parts threaten U.S. national security.

Why? Because wind is intermittent and unreliable—it burdens the grid, forces constant fossil-fuel backups to keep the lights on, raises costs, and pulls resources away from power that actually works. Add in cybersecurity holes in foreign gear and radar interference, and it’s a problem for both the grid and national defense.

Nowhere is this clearer than in Maine, where the state is pushing a massive wind buildout across 50,000 acres in Aroostook County plus billions in new transmission lines—only to deliver a winter capacity factor around 10%. That’s not an energy plan; it’s a political agenda. The order itself notes the contrast with nuclear’s steady, reliable output. Resources wasted propping up weather-dependent turbines would be far better spent on firm power that actually keeps the lights on.

The proclamation directs negotiations with trading partners over the next 180 days. If those talks fail to address the threats, further action can follow.

Full proclamation in the comments. ⬇️

24/10/2026

21/10/2026

Do these projects run on sunlight—or subsidies?

Ownership stakes in 19 Maine solar projects are headed to a foreclosure auction. And while some developers face financial trouble, Mainers are still being forced to help fund this industry through electric bills they can barely afford, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year going forward.

How did we get here? Maine expanded Net Energy Billing to encourage solar development, with a goal of 750 megawatts. By June 2025, the Public Advocate said we had built more than 1,600 megawatts—over twice the goal.

But exceeding the goal didn’t end the subsidies. Mainers kept paying.

Then came LD 1777, which made modest reforms that the Public Advocate said would reduce payments to large community solar projects by approximately 20%.

Democrats celebrating that relief reminds me of someone beating you seven days a week, cutting it back to six, and expecting a thank-you. Extremely benevolent, right?

Don’t let them convince you they solved the problem. This is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound—and an election-year talking point doesn’t change that. Trimming a program whose annual costs run into the hundreds of millions of dollars does not make the remaining burden affordable.

Now, ownership stakes in these projects are headed to auction. The foreclosure notice doesn’t establish that LD 1777 caused this default. But the situation exposes a fundamental weakness in this model: developers build their financial plans around subsidies that Mainers have no choice but to help pay.

And frankly, I’m not convinced Democrats would have touched those subsidies if skyrocketing electric bills hadn’t become a political liability. When families demanded relief, they trimmed the burden and expected applause for leaving most of it intact.

Why should Mainers be forced to subsidize an industry whose financial survival depends on keeping their electric bills higher?

We’re told solar is the cheapest energy. We’ve already exceeded the buildout goal. Yet somehow, asking struggling families to pay less is treated as a threat to the industry.

If putting ratepayers first puts your business model in jeopardy, ratepayers aren’t the problem. Your business model is.

This proves what we knew to be true all along: this was never about a business plan or what is best for the ratepayer, this was always about enriching special interests and advancing a radical political agenda.

Link to the article is in the comments.

20/10/2026

Honored to be endorsed by Run Gen Z! 🇺🇸

As Maine’s youngest female legislator, I know you don’t have to wait your turn to stand up for what matters. You need conviction, courage, and a willingness to do the work.

Our generation will inherit the consequences of today’s decisions. We have every reason to help shape them—and I’ll keep fighting for a Maine where we can afford to build our lives, raise our families, and stay.

Principles over politics. Always.

19/10/2026

This map show the best and worst places to site solar projects. In Maine, solar will always run on subsidies not sunlight.

My opposition to grid scale solar has always been practical, not political.

If you want rooftop solar and want to pay for it yourself, that is your choice. Just don’t expect your neighbors to pay for it.

18/10/2026

Happy Sunday!

16/10/2026

I want to thank U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for his leadership and for joining me on WVOM to talk about the future of energy—and specifically, the need for new nuclear generation.

It was an honor to have Secretary Wright recognize my work on this issue and my commitment to bringing affordable, reliable energy to the people of Maine.

We both recognize a basic reality: Maine cannot power its future on intermittent renewables alone. We will always need reliable, around-the-clock baseload power.

And that isn’t just my opinion. ISO New England has said: “An exclusive reliance on wind, solar, and battery resources would pose significant reliability challenges,” and that “dispatchable resources… will become increasingly critical as intermittent resources become more prevalent.”

Maine has a choice: continue down the path of costly mandates and increasing dependence on weather-dependent generation—or get serious about building the reliable energy infrastructure our families and businesses actually need.

Nuclear isn’t a wish for the future—it’s an answer for right now. The technology is here, the need is clear, and it’s time for Maine to embrace reliable nuclear power as a cornerstone of our energy future.

16/10/2026

Mark your calendar for the two-day Maine Youth Deer Hunt!

📅Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24

A youth hunt is all about mentorship. Focus on the experience, not the harvest. Celebrate the small wins. Bring snacks. Keep the day short. Prioritize safety and learning. This is your chance to reconnect, share your passion, and support conservation as a two generation team.

From preparation and places to go, to tips for success in the field, we're here to help Maine families make memories outdoors. Find youth hunting resources at mefishwildlife.com/youthhunt.

15/10/2026

⚡️I know it’s dark out — but that’s the point. Peak hours this time of year are between 5–9 pm.

Right now at 6:57 pm on October 15th, 2026:

ALL of the solar panels in ALL of New England are contributing less than 0.1% of the power to our grid.

Or in other words — only about 8 MW compared with current system demand of 13,993 MW.

Other contributing resources:

🌬️ Wind: 2.7% (377 MW)
🗑️ Refuse: 2.2% (314 MW)
🪵 Wood: 0.8% (114 MW)
♻️ Landfill Gas: 0.2% (24 MW)
💧 Hydro: 12%
📥 Net Imports: 7%
🔋 Batteries: