This post is the result of 3 well-timed articles and 4 shots of espresso.  I have come up with a plan that will not only increase internet speed state-wide but will also greatly reduce the amount of power outages in the state and attract new businesses. Crazy talk? I think not.

Remember the ice/snow storms we had a few weeks ago that left over 100K people w/out power, some for days in freezing cold temperatures? . Thousands of dollars lost from spoiled food and closed businesses.  You can bet insurance claims will be through the roof. People died due to carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly vented generators, which is a common occurrence during outages.  This doesn’t have to happen. There’s a simple, but expensive solution; bury the lines.

A recent BDN article explains that by burying the power lines, Maine could save millions a year in fixing downed lines, and also in maintenance. Of course, it would be a massive undertaking, but wasn’t putting up the poles in the first place?

Now, while we’re digging up the state to bury power lines, let’s lay down some super fast fiber optic internet cables! Maine is 49th in internet speed in the country. The US is 9th in the world for speed. Last night NPR did a great piece on the high-price and low-speed problem in the US. I highly suggest listening to it, if for no other reason than to hear the speed comparison demo using Black Sabbath.  Apparently, Chattanooga, TN has the fastest internet in the US. How’d they do it? A massive public works project that involved laying down fiber optic cable. They now have internet speeds around 1G. 100X faster than the avg. Oh guess what? Businesses from around the country are now looking at Chattanooga to set up shop. If Maine spent the money and installed this same kind of cable, it stands to reason that companies would start looking up here to re-locate. Especially some of those coveted tech firms down in Beantown.

One solution to solve 3 problems.  Boom. Done.