This conversation had an odd effect on me. I found it... relaxing? To hear a politician speaking competently, calmly, clearly, practically and with nuance about climate policy was so soothing, reassuring. More of this please!
I think a lot about not only what we need to do to address the climate crisis, but also how to make those things happen. (I know you do too, and I love you for that!)
One BIG question is how to make things happen when your federal leaders are climate deniers in the pocket of fossil fuel industry! (Ahem, America.) One answer is that state government leaders need to majorly step up. So, today’s conversation with Maine gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree is an important one. (I’ll take any excuse to use the delightful word gubernatorial).
Spoiler-ish: Here’s what Hannah said at the end this interview —
“It is essential, for the future of our communities and our country, to keep pushing leaders to be climate leaders. I want to be one of the best climate governors in the country, and that's why I'm running.”
Honestly, in this era of “climate hushing” it was refreshing to hear a politician say that. (More on that topic in this Grist article and this previous episode with a communications expert.)
Okay, who is this person? Why should you spend an hour of your one wild and precious life listening to this?
Hannah Pingree is is a longtime public servant and climate leader from a small island off the midcoast of Maine, whom I have gotten to know since moving to Maine a few years ago.
She served four terms in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010 – elected when she was just 26. For those last 2 years she was speaker — only the second woman to hold that position in Maine history.
After that she served on the school board and managed a sustainable housing nonprofit. She’s super passionate about the intersections of climate and affordable housing, which you’ll hear all about in this episode.
Most recently, from 2019 to 2025, she was founding director of Maine’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. There, she co-chaired the Maine Climate Council, and oversaw development of Maine’s ambitious climate plan, called “Maine Won’t Wait.”
I would describe Hannah as a strategic problem-solver. She listens hard to people across the state, does her homework, sees how this whole suite of issues from clean energy to housing to affordability to public health and our food system are all intertwined, and deeply understands the tools for making change.
Very importantly, in a fiercely independent “purple” state like Maine, Hannah also has a track record of something very rare in American politics right now: an ability to get things done across all sorts of political divides, including on climate issues.
In this conversation, we cover everything from AI data centers, to clean energy, affordability, aquaculture, PFAS (aka forever chemicals), working waterfronts, and the critical role of governors in this era of excruciating federal rollbacks.
After hearing this interview, you’ll get why I will be ranking Hannah Pingree #1 on my ballot and why Maine Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, and — perhaps most notably — the High School Democrats of Maine have endorsed her.
This is an especially timely episode because early voting in Maine’s primary election is open NOW! And Election Day is June 9th. So whether you’re a Maine voter yourself, know someone who is, or are just interested in what state-level climate leadership can look like... this one’s for you. Have a listen and send this episode to all the Mainers in your life so they can make a more informed decision.
ACTION!
Local and state leadership matter so much. Implementation of climate solutions is local.
So, wherever you live, it’s a perfect time to pick a candidate, roll up your sleeves and help them win. These midterm elections are an ENORMOUS deal. Don’t know where to begin? Check out which candidates Lead Locally and Working Families Party have endorsed, and sign up to phone bank with Environmental Voter Project.
Now for the credits: This episode was produced by Remoy Philip and me, with support from Jenisha Shrestha. That’s it! That’s our small but mighty team.
Alright, Earthlings, newsletters will probably be sparse for the next few months, and I’m gonna take the summer off from podcasting. And then! I’ll be back in the fall with an election season of the show. For that I’m going to be teaming up with a magnificent and wise and charming co-host. All will be revealed in due time... but get stoked, and stay tuned, and do your part, and be kind, and keep loving this planet. 🩵
p.s. If you’re craving more on climate and politics, this episode from the archives should hit the spot.
Vote Climate ✅, with Nathaniel Stinnett and Whit Jones
A conversation on climate and voting with Whit Jones, founder and executive director of Lead Locally, and Nathaniel Stinnett, founder and executive director of Environmental Voter Project, where we got nerdy and specific, about: fixing this MASSIVE voter turnout problem, how climate voters can influence policy, election wins we should celebrate, and why local elections matter very, very much.
