By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — A bill to study a new way to compensate electricity customers for the power they generate and return into the grid was vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage on Monday. The legislation, LD 1263, comes as uncertainty looms over just how long the Read More
Clean Energy
Clean energy improves Maine's air quality and reduces climate-changing pollution throughout the state of Maine and the greater New England region. That’s why NRCM is a steadfast advocate for state policies and initiatives that benefit Maine’s environment.
NRCM’s climate and clean energy work is focused on where we can have the greatest impact: electric vehicles, clean and renewable energy production, and greater energy efficiency.
Our clean energy work is critical to reducing Maine’s environmental problems and adverse affects to our health. Including high asthma rates, more “bad air days,” rising sea levels due to climate change that threaten coastal communities, and threats to our fall foliage, skiing, and our vital tourism-based industry.
NRCM makes certain that Maine's elected officials and other decision-makers are kept updated about leading information related to global warming pollution, clean energy technologies, and steps Maine can take to ensure clean air for generations to come.
Supreme Court Remands EPA’s Health-protective Mercury & Air Toxics Standards
High Court decision will further delay reductions of toxic air emissions that will save thousands of lives and provide important health protections News Release Washington, D.C. — This morning in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court remanded the Environmental Protection Agency’s first-ever national standards for mercury and other toxic air pollution from coal- and oil- Read More
Future of Solar Energy in Maine Still Cloudy
Disagreements persist over how generators, ratepayers and utilities may benefit from the clean power of the sun. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The tussle over the future of solar energy in Maine also is a fight over competing visions for how to develop the limitless resource. One continues the existing Read More
Lawmakers Unanimously Override LePage Veto of Efficiency Maine Funding Bill
The proposal, known as the ‘missing and’ bill, fixes a clerical error made in the state’s 2013 energy law. By Steve Mistler. Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The Legislature overrode several more vetoes by Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday, including his rejection of a bill that corrects a one-word clerical error Read More
Solar Power Project to Cut Electric Bill at Camden High School
by Stephen Betts, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story ROCKPORT, Maine — The Five-Town Community School District Board approved Wednesday night a solar power project for the high school that will continue to reduce the electrical costs for the complex. Facilities Director Keith Rose said the goal of students is for Camden Hills Regional Read More
Pope Francis’ Encyclical on Climate Change: Guided by Morality, Backed by Science
“In this encyclical,” Pope Francis writes, “I intend especially to engage in a dialogue with everyone about our common home.” As a Catholic, it’s exciting for me to see Pope Francis putting climate change at the top of the Church’s agenda. Climate change has disastrous implications for our common home—God’s creation—and for the world’s poor. Read More
Maine Legislature Gives Final Approval to Efficiency Bill to Fix the “And” (LD 1215)
Senate Approves Bill Unanimously, Under the Hammer Sending it to the Governor’s Desk Statement of Dylan Voorhees, NRCM Clean Energy Director “We applaud the Senate and the full Legislature for final passage of this simple bill to uphold the clear legislative intent of the omnibus energy bill and save Maine people and businesses a billion Read More
70% of Maine Voters Support Proposed Bond to Reduce Heating Costs through Expanded Home Efficiency
NRCM news release Augusta, ME – As members of the Maine Legislature’s Appropriations Committee consider a variety of bond proposals to send to voters, a poll of likely voters shows fully 70% support a proposed $30 million bond to improve the energy efficiency of 30,000 Maine homes. LD 1341, sponsored by Senator Dawn Hill of Read More
Bill to Fix Clerical Error in Maine Energy-efficiency Law Advances
But its prospects are uncertain because of a likely veto by LePage. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill correcting a one-word clerical error potentially worth $38 million for an energy-efficiency program moved closer to final passage in the Legislature on Monday after weeks on the back burner. Read More
