King and a team of U.S.and Danish scientists survey icebergs off the western coast of Greenland in 2016. N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 7 3 7 Photos courtesy u.s. seN. ANgus KiNg’s office the effects of climate change will be nega- tive. And, of course, a sea-level rise is going to have a huge impact on a coastal state like Maine. But one of my main principles in life is that you have to play the hand that’s dealt to you. The reality is, of all these neg- ative effects, the opening up of the Arctic creates new opportunities. We’re facing an extraordinary moment in human history. I’ve likened it to the discovery of the Med- iterranean Sea: A body of water that has been completely closed to major human ac- tivity throughout history is suddenly avail- able for transit, for energy, commerce, and recreation. I don’t feel like I’m betraying my concern over climate change by engag- ing with this. I think, if this is happening, what are the implications–good and bad– for Maine? WhatmakesussoperfectlypoisedtoleadtheU.S.into theArctic? Eastport, Searsport, and Portland are the three closest U.S. ports to the Arctic. East- port has around 65 feet of depth just a few feet from shore. New York would kill for that! Whatarethechallengeswefaceonanationallevel? You’vespokenwithconvictionoftheneedformoreheavy icebreakers. The icebreaker is essential infrastructure, and we’ve just woefully neglected it. The best way to think of it? Icebreakers are like the interstate highway of the Arctic. Right now, we’ve only got one and a half. The half is a ship that we’re using for parts! It’s em- barrassing. Meanwhile, the Russians have an estimated 17 to 40, including several nu- clear-powered ships. It’s like we’re traveling on old country roads, and they’re zooming along highways. SothisisthenewSpaceRace?TheArcticRace? Well, if we’re talking about transit and commerce opportunities, infrastructure makes a huge difference. And there’s an is- sue of security. Without getting into any- thing classified, the Russians have made significant steps into the militarization of their Arctic fleet in terms of bases, ports, and assets. I should say that the Arctic is one area where we have actually been able to work cooperatively with the Russians! It’s a bright spot in our relationship. Howsoonwillweseeresults?WillBathIronsWorksstand achanceofwinningthecontract? [The Senate Defense Appropriations Sub- committee added $1 billion to fund the creation of a new icebreaker in 2016. Chi- na, a non-Arctic Nation, recently allocat- ed $300M toward its second icebreaker, according to Global Trade Magazine.] I think there are going to be serious steps toward creating icebreakers in the next few years. We really need a multiple pro- curement, and it needs to happen soon. The major issue is how much it’ll cost. We’re trying to get to the bot- tom of how countries like Fin- land are doing it for half a billion. As for Bath Iron Works–perhaps. YouweretheonlyCongressmembertojoina fact-findingmissiontoGreenlandin2016.What didyoulearnonthetrip? Yes, that’s right. On a previous Con- gressional trip to Pakistan, I met a very old man who took my hand and said, “I know why you’re here. You’re here be- cause you understand that a day of seeing is worth more than a month of reading.” I found that to be very profound and quite true. I went to Greenland with the Com- mandant of the Coast Guard to conduct research in national security and climate change. We met with the Danish Navy, who run Greenland’s military and foreign af- fairs, and went out on their frigate with two American climate scientists, John England- er and Bob Corell–who actually summers in Maine. Corell was visibly shaken by what we saw. It’d changed so much in the two years since he’d last visited. But like I said, you play the hand that’s dealt. Greenland- ers are gaining land for farming and graz- ing from the retreating ice sheets, while al- so losing their old ways of life. They feel it’s a double-edged sword. Inyouropinion,whatarethechancesofanIndependent PresidentoftheUnitedStates? [Laughs] I think it would be very difficult. The time may come, but it’d be very, very difficult! In 2014,King visited Camp Nautilus inAlaska and traveled aboard the USS New Mexico,a nuclear powered attack submarine. “I’ve likened it to the Mediterranean Sea.”