I really like living in Maine. I moved up here to go to college, and I fell in love with this place. I remember the first time I saw Great Pond in my ecology class. The trees and the blue water were just too beautiful to resist. Yes, I could imagine staying here after college, but … .

I am afraid the dangers of climate change are too scary, and the job market is not looking great. For me, Maine seems to have a twofold problem.

Some scientists say that the Gulf of Maine is warming 99 percent more quickly than any other body of water. Add the recent Maine sea-level rises of 0.6 feet and the lack of plans to mitigate climate change, and, regardless of my admiration, I don’t see myself living here. Not only because of me, but also because of my future children.

This lack of addressing climate change goes together with the lack of jobs. Being at a college strongly focused on renewable energy, I could see the solar and wind industries expand and provide jobs for many who have been living in Maine for decades and for people like me, soon-to-be graduates who want to stay in this state.

And the Clean Power Plan can help us achieve that. Not only does it propose to cut carbon emissions by 30 percent, making Maine less susceptible to the aftermath of climate change, it also provides us with new opportunities to build renewable energy industries in the wonderful state of Maine.

With the Clean Power Plan, I know I could stay in this state, get a job and be able to visit Great Pond and admire the beauties of Maine without fear of the future.

Ester Topolarova

student, Colby College

Waterville

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