A shocking new national survey of states’ public utilities shows Maine ranks the worst of all 50, earning it an embarrassing grade of “F.”
That’s according to CNBC’S annual measure of “top states for business.”
The survey includes reviews of each state’s roads, bridges, ports, airports, utilities, connectivity and sustainability.
“The Pine Tree State has America’s least reliable power grid, a longstanding problem exacerbated by Maine’s harsh climate,” CNBC said.
“For years, officials have floated plans to fix the power system,” it added.
Two years ago, Maine voters “resoundingly defeated a plan to replace the state’s power companies with a public system to be known as Pine Tree Power.”
CNBC says Democrat Gov. Janet Mills signed legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Energy Resources to try to “tackle the issue once and for all.”
“This new department will allow the state to build a long-term approach for Maine’s energy needs, respond quickly to emerging challenges, and strengthen regional and national energy partnerships to benefit our people and economy,” Mills said in a statement earlier this month.
“But for now, Maine has America’s worst all-around infrastructure,” CNBC said.
It gave Maine an infrastructure score of 119 out of 405 possible points, which qualifies as an “F.”
Eight percent of Maine’s roads are “in unacceptable condition,” the survey showed.
As for bridges, more than 15 percent are judged to be in “poor condition.”
Maine’s bridge rating is five times worse than the No. 2 lowest-ranking state in the survey, Alaska.
Nearly 20 per of the state’s population lacks affordable broadband access.
