House and Senate votes Wednesday indicate enough support to override a veto, but a similar bill fell short of an override after passing with veto-proof majorities last year. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill that would tweak Maine’s solar “net metering” credits and direct utility regulators to Read More
Gov. LePage Misinforms Public in Push to End Land Trust Tax Exemptions
About 95% of the land is already on the tax rolls, and the fiscal impact of taxing the others would be negligible. by Tim Glidden, David Trahan, and Kate Dempsey Portland Press Herald op-ed At the 11th hour and with state government teetering on the edge of a shutdown, the governor has stirred up a Read More
More Than Two-thirds of Maine House and Senate Approve Solar Bill; Next Significant Vote Expected to be Veto Override (LD 1504, as amended)
Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Climate and Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Today, the Maine House (105-40) and Senate (29-6) voted overwhelmingly in favor of a compromise solar bill to help build a prosperous future for Maine people through encouraging clean, locally produced solar power and the good jobs it delivers. The measure Read More
My Maine This Week: Smalls Falls by Barbara Heap
We welcome a new My Maine This Week photographer this week—Barbara Heap of Readfield, Maine. Welcome Barbara! Barbara sent this beautiful photo of Smalls Falls in Madrid, Maine. To see past My Maine This Week photos, or to submit a photo of your own to be featured on our website, please visit www.nrcm.org/our-maine/my-maine-this-week.
Construction of Solar Project on South Portland’s Capped Landfill to Start in July
The array off Highland Avenue is expected to generate about 12 percent of the electricity used by the city’s school and municipal buildings. by Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — Construction of a solar array on the city’s capped landfill is expected to start in July after the City Read More
Solar Bill Would Let Maine Grow Clean Energy Jobs
The bill that just passed both chambers in a preliminary vote must have ongoing support. Portland Press Herald editorial There’s an energy boom underway in this country, and it’s not in the oil fields. Advances in solar power technology have brought down prices, putting photovoltaic panels in financial reach of millions of homeowners as well Read More
I Hope Zinke’s Visit Showed Him the Importance of the North Woods Monument
By Sheridan Steele, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke’s recent visit to Maine to see firsthand our majestic landscapes is a good exercise of his role of chief steward of our nation’s national parks and monuments. But contemplating reduction or elimination of our public land is not. Read More
House and Senate Approve Solar Bill, More Votes Ahead
Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Legislature’s bipartisan votes for the solar bill are good news for Mainers. This common sense bill will help prevent the loss of solar jobs in Maine, save money for all Maine electricity customers, and allow more Mainers to benefit from this clean, Read More
With Lobsters and Climate, There’s Not a Debate
Fishery experts don’t waste time with politics when their livelihood is threatened by rising temperatures. Portland Press Herald editorial During a week in which much of the world was wondering whether the president of the United States considers climate change a threat, in a Portland hotel conference room full of people who spend their lives Read More
