Regulators saw little benefit to ratepayers from a requirement that companies with large solar arrays pay to have expensive meters installed. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Clean-energy advocates won a partial victory Wednesday when the Maine Public Utilities Commission agreed to exempt large electric customers from a recent regulatory policy that Read More
Maine Regulators Partially Undo Controversial Solar Metering Rule
By Fred Bever Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. State regulators are partially unwinding what they had hoped was a solution to inequities in the way solar power users are compensated for excess electricity they supply to the grid. Last year, after several legislative attempts to reform the state’s solar rules were Read More
Maine Environment Fall 2018 Newsletter
Maine Environment Fall 2018: What’s Inside! In this issue of Maine Environment, we feature an important story by NRCM Climate and Clean Energy Project Director Dylan Voorhees about Central Maine Power’s proposed 145-mile transmission line through Maine, to bring power from Canada to Massachusetts. He explains NRCM’s work and our reasons for opposing this project, Read More
CMP Transmission Proposal Puts Corporate Profits Ahead of Our Environment and Climate
The Natural Resources Council of Maine opposes Central Maine Power’s (CMP) massive, proposed transmission line across western Maine. It would harm Maine’s environment, economy, and way of life—and do nothing to reduce climate-disrupting pollution. It’s a bad deal for Maine. CMP proposes to build a 145-mile, high-voltage, direct current transmission line from the Quebec border Read More
Midcoast Communities Gear Up for Plastic Bag, Styrofoam Bans
By Lauren Abbate, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story A ban on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers approved by Rockland officials earlier this year will take effect at the start of the new year. A similar ban will also take effect in April for Camden residents. The Rockland City Council approved the Read More
Maine PUC Stops Tax on Medium & Large Customers Using Their Own Solar Power
Determines “gross metering” costs ratepayers too much NRCM News Release Today the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a petition from Insource Renewables to suspend so-called “gross metering” for medium and large electricity users, citing excessive costs to all ratepayers to implement the policy. “Gross metering” was adopted by the PUC two years ago to Read More
Opponents Rail against CMP’s Proposed 145-mile Transmission Line at Durham Forum
By Hannah LaClaire, Times Record Staff Times Record news story DURHAM — Proponents say a planned 145-mile powerline cutting across Western Maine, terminating in Lewiston, would be a boon for renewable energy. The New England Clean Energy Connect would allow Central Maine Power to deliver hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts. For boosters of tourism and Read More
Trump Administration Pushes to Gut Clean Water Rule, Putting Maine’s Clean Water at Risk
Statement of Emmie Theberge, Federal Project Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Trump Administration’s proposal to scrap the Clean Water Rule is the wrong move for Maine and for our country. If finalized, this ‘Dirty Water Rule’ would strip safeguards from streams and wetlands across the country. In a state like Maine, it would Read More
Bring Your Own Bag Midcoast Receives Spirit of Goodwill Award
In October of 2018 I joined fellow Bring Your Own Bag Midcoast (BYOB) volunteers at the Abromson Community Education Center in Portland where Goodwill Industries of Northern New England (GWINNE) presented us with the Spirit of Goodwill award. During the award ceremony Rich Cantz, President and CEO of GWINNE, expressed his continued support for our Read More
