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Julia Munsey is President and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.
Since its founding in 1889, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce has grown to become Maine’s largest business association, representing a network of 5,000 companies of all sizes and industries in every region of Maine. The focus of the Chamber’s work is the task of promoting a positive business climate; strengthening Maine’s economy, workforce and competitiveness; and attract more employers and people to Maine.
There is so much good news about Maine being a great place to live, work and do business. Talking about this is the culmination of what we do in the Chamber.
Another part of our role is to support Maine businesses when they face challenges, particularly with the Maine Legislature.
One of Maine’s best-known brands – natural spring water bottler Poland Spring, which has a 178-year history in Maine, is currently facing a series of bills that would severely limit its business and the availability of its products. One proposal is essentially a de facto ban on bottled water in retail stores, while another blocks Poland Spring from working with local water authorities.
One bill, LD 854, due to its size, would only impose a water withdrawal tax on Poland Spring and not any other bottled water company. That proposed tax, which would total $50 million annually, would be nearly all of Poland Spring’s payroll for 900 Maine employees – leaving the future of the Maine company and the very existence of these well-paying, clean manufacturing jobs highly uncertain .
In the Maine State House and beyond, it’s important to understand that Poland Spring, like all bottled water, is heavily regulated at the local, state, and federal levels. Poland Spring is authorized by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and regulated by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the State Drinking Water Program, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). under the US Clean Water Act.
It should also be noted that all of Maine’s water bottling companies combined account for less than 1 percent of Maine’s water withdrawal.
LD 854 recognizes a sustainable Maine business that is, at its core, a highly responsible water steward.
Poland Spring’s experienced and dedicated team of scientists consistently and diligently monitors all 10 springs to ensure water extraction is sustainable and does not harm the environment. Poland Spring—and Maine’s economy—depend on a healthy, thriving environment.
Since its founding in 1845, Poland Spring has helped expand Maine’s economy, create jobs and fuel future growth. The Poland Spring plant in Kingfield is a perfect example of how investing in a bottling plant contributes to the vitality of the community, creating well-paying jobs with benefits and a steady tax revenue stream for the city.
In addition, Poland Spring has donated more than $10 million over the past decade to support education, conservation and other local causes in Maine communities, including The Ecology School and The Dempsey Center. Last year, Poland Spring donated 1 million bottles of water and $1 million to Maine charities in need. This is exactly the kind of business we want in Maine – the kind that gives back.
The Chamber is proud to represent and stand behind Poland Spring’s exemplary environmental stewardship and tremendous contribution to Maine’s economy and communities.
The Maine State Chamber urges the Maine legislature to reject LD 854 and any other bills that would adversely affect Poland Spring, the livelihoods of its 900 Maine employees and our state’s economy. As a state, we must do what we can to support the great businesses we have here like Poland Spring and build Maine’s reputation as a great place to live, work and do business.
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