WaPo editorial board accuses Maine Democrat Platner of ‘fantastical’ energy plan

The Washington Post editorial board took aim Thursday at progressive Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and Democratic challenger Sen. He accused Susan Collins, R-Maine, of offering “fantastic solutions” to voters’ real-world concerns.

“These extreme policy proposals deserve as much scrutiny as his covered-up Nazi tattoo.” the board wrote. The subheading warned: “The Senate has been too hopeful about anger and short on real solutions.”

“Consider the rookie candidate’s new plan to address rising energy prices,” he said, suggesting that his main campaign themes include “punishment.”[ing] It means “big business” while leaving more control of the economy in the hands of government bureaucrats.

Editorial mainly by Platner recently announced The “Take Back American Energy” plan, which calls for a four-year freeze on electricity prices, a windfall tax on big oil profits, and an end to federal gas tax collection to lower consumer costs.

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“Encourage [sic] “If states choose to comply because they are responsible for regulating energy prices, it will offer federal funding to build energy infrastructure,” he said.

“Artificially placing a ceiling on what people pay will discourage further energy production without discouraging its use. In other words, it’s a recipe for scarcity.”

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The Washington Post editorial board noted that Platner’s proposed energy policies were potentially problematic. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The editorial said Platner wants to invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage companies to create “clean” energy technologies to offset supply concerns, as well as create a federally backed loan program for energy projects.

The board compared Platner’s proposals to Texas’ energy policies, pointing to the state’s rise as the nation’s leading producer of utility-scale solar power under an “all-of-the-above energy policy,” or in other words, an approach focused on energy security through a diverse mix.

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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, leaves the Senate Republican luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Platner is running to unseat Collins as one of Maine’s senators. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.)

“People living in Texas … pay less than half of what Californians pay for energy per kilowatt-hour.” the editorial stated, criticizing Platner for overlooking deregulation while arguing that the real solution to rising energy costs was “making it easier to build.”

Overall, the editorial board argued that Platner’s proposals relied heavily on government intervention, price controls, and federal financing but did little to address fundamental barriers to energy production.

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“Platner’s plan has little chance of becoming a reality anytime soon, which is good news for residents already harmed by the anti-growth policies he seeks to accelerate,” the board said. he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Platner’s campaign for comment on this story but did not immediately hear back.

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Platner has faced criticism recently from other Democrats, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who has expressed caution about his progressive ideas.

“He is an open communist. He is identified himself as a communist. Antifa, this is not an insult I made. This is not a feat unique to the GOP. “That’s his own words and how he describes it,” Fetterman said.

Fox News’ Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.