The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is calling on Congress to act quickly to pass a continuing resolution and prevent a federal government shutdown.
 
Statement from President and CEO Patrick Woodcock:
"The economy does not need additional uncertainty, and a federal government shutdown would create a ripple effect of uncertainty for employers, workers, and communities across Maine. Essential services that families and businesses rely on would be disrupted, undermining confidence and exacerbating a slowing economy.

The impacts of a shutdown could extend from delayed federal contracts and services to the possibility of closing Acadia National Park during the height of leaf-peeping season — a closure that would impact the local economy and harm small businesses that depend on fall visitors.
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We strongly encourage both parties to work together quickly to resolve this impasse, pass a continuing resolution now, and avoid further self-inflicted setbacks to Maine’s economy and America’s competitiveness."

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                Media contact: Katie Clark
Tuesday, September 23, 2025                                                                                                                                207-233-2230 (cell)
 
AUGUSTA, Maine (Sept. 23, 2025) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is carefully monitoring the announcement by The Nature Conservancy and Brookfield Renewable today regarding the future of four hydroelectric dams on the Kennebec River, including the Shawmut Dam. This agreement has the potential to significantly impact one of Maine’s largest manufacturing employers and the thousands of good-paying jobs tied to the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, as well as independent loggers, contractors, and landowners throughout the state.

Given the scale of the Somerset Mill’s recent $500 million transformation of its largest paper machine and its reliance on water from the Shawmut Dam, the economic stakes of this process are considerable. Any changes to the operation of these facilities could have wide-reaching implications for rural Maine communities, the state’s forest products industry, and its manufacturing competitiveness.
 
The Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock issued the following statement:
 
“The agreement announced by the Nature Conservancy presents major consequences for our state’s economy. Specifically, the Somerset Mill just completed a massive rebuild – one of the state’s largest private investments ever - to now produce packaging products, and the mill’s success is contingent on continued utilization of water from the Shawmut dam. Any proposed modifications of existing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses on the Kennebec River must not jeopardize those jobs and facility upgrades. While we will collaborate with any partner, including the Nature Conservancy, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce will be focused on ensuring that plans for the Kennebec work for the state’s economy and support jobs in rural Maine. Finally, hydropower has served as a critical resource to power our state’s economy and we should support companies, like Brookfield, that maintain these critical clean energy assets and continue to produce clean and affordable electricity here in Maine.”
 
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About the Maine State Chamber of Commerce:
Founded in 1889, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce is Maine’s largest business association, serving as The Voice of Maine Business on behalf of thousands of employers of all sizes and sectors across the state. The Maine State Chamber focuses on three pillars - Advocacy, Access, and Awareness - to advance a positive business climate and secure a strong state economy in which Maine businesses can compete and succeed. For more information, please visit www.mainechamber.org.