Bill McKibben & Molly Schen Op Ed

On June 22, Third Act Maine welcomed Bill McKibben to an afternoon gathering in Cape Elizabeth. He urged us to lean into our unique perspective as elders between now and November. To restore a semblance of order and reason in our nation’s capital and shore up democratic norms, he argued, we need to tell stories about what really matters to us. In Maine, that means ousting Senator Susan Collins. McKibben believes we are uniquely suited to talk about the need for generational change–without being charged as ageist. That very morning, McKibben’s opinion piece with Third Act Maine co-leader Molly Schen – sometimes light-hearted, but also deadly serious – was published in several Maine newspapers on this very topic (read on!). Note – Third Act Maine rescinded our support of Graham Platner as of July 8, 2026.

McKibben also talked about the great good news that solar and wind energy are far more affordable than fossil fuel options, and that even though the current administration has canceled projects, incentive programs, and research grants, many states continue to make progress on this front simply because it makes good economic sense.

Op Ed by Bill McKibben and Molly Schen published June 21, 2026 in the Portland Press Herald

Bill McKibben is co-founder of Third Act, which mobilizes people over 60 for action on climate and justice. He is the author of “The End of Nature” and 20 other books. Molly Schen is co-facilitator of Third Act Maine, supporting statewide legislation for the environment and climate resiliency as well as protections for democracy.

Excerpts follow. Click on link above to read the full op-ed.

“Susan Collins is counting on the votes of older Mainers to return her to the Senate this fall. They’re familiar with her since she’s been in office for almost 30 years, and they supported her in the past, including in her 2020 win over Sara Gideon. But it’s possible that she’ll lose that demographic this time around — in fact, we think it’s likely.”

“Being in Washington creates a gulf between Capitol Hill and life back home. Susan Collins has been in D.C. since the year Princess Diana died, and it seems to have slowly robbed her of the ability to see how bad things have gotten.”

“It’s become a standing joke that when Trump does something truly awful — sets up a slush fund for violent rioters, say — she expresses some form of “deep concern,” and then returns to business as usual, voting to make sure that the GOP stays in charge of the Senate and that nothing is ever done to stop him.”