This is the second blog post in a series that will illuminate the ways federal funding has allowed Maine to successfully complete climate and clean energy projects; the projects that are underway with funding coming down the pipeline; and the needs that still exist for continued climate and clean energy work. Read the first blog Read More
Cleaner Transportation
Many people are surprised to learn that cars and trucks are the single largest source of climate-changing pollution in Maine, at roughly 55 percent. This pollution that exacerbates global warming isn’t just threatening our natural resource-based economy here in Maine, it is also impacting our air quality and the health of Maine families and children. By driving electric vehicles, Mainers are reducing air pollution that harms our environment, our health, and our natural resources-based economy. Our electricity mix here in Maine is one of the cleanest in the country, and that makes plug-in electric cars far more environmentally friendly than even the most efficient hybrid car.
Why Are My Energy Bills So High? It’s Because of Fossil Fuels.
Since the fall, we’ve seen the consequences of our continued dependence on oil and gas here in Maine: Heating oil and utility gas prices have spiked, becoming unaffordable for too many Maine people. The New England grid’s reliance on expensive natural gas caused electricity prices to nearly double this winter. And now Putin’s war in Read More
Support of LD 2003, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions
Senator Daughtry, Representative Sylvester, Members of the Labor and Housing Committee. My name is Jack Shapiro, I’m the Climate and Clean Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and I’m here to testify in support of LD 2003, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Read More
Why Increasing Housing Opportunities is Good for the Climate
Close your eyes, and think about what climate and clean energy policy looks like. When we picture climate action, we often think of things like solar panels or electric vehicles. Rightly so, since clean energy and electrifying our transportation system are critically important to hitting our climate goals. But climate action goes way beyond wind Read More
Smart Funding Decisions Needed to Build a Climate-friendly Transportation System for Maine
Maine’s transportation system is largely focused on moving cars quickly from point A to point B. But this focus risks missing the point entirely—and serves to create congestion, cost, and carbon pollution. If we are to meet the challenge of the climate crisis, Maine needs to deliver healthier, more affordable and accessible transportation options Read More
Putting Our Plug-in Hybrid to the Test: Pandemic Road-tripping
In August of 2021, my husband and I decided to accept an invitation to an in-person wedding of a dear friend in southeastern Michigan, about 900 miles away from our home in Lewiston. Seeing friends and embarking on a road trip, one of our favorite ways to vacation, seemed the perfect antidote to our COVID Read More
Maine’s Climate Action Plan Turns One
Today marks one year since the creation of Maine’s Climate Action Plan, “Maine Won’t Wait,” an exciting and ambitious framework to tackle climate change on all fronts in our state. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, it has been a pivotal year for climate action. Hundreds of Maine people, communities, and businesses have stepped up to deliver meaningful progress toward our climate goals. As more and Read More
US House Votes for Largest Investment in Climate Action and Clean Energy in History
NRCM statement by Emmie Theberge Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the Build Back Better Act, which includes the largest investment in climate action and clean energy in U.S. history. Below is a statement from Emmie Theberge, Federal Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, regarding the House’s vote: “This Read More
What the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule Means for Maine
Trucks have an outsized impact on climate change in Maine. The transportation sector is responsible for 54% of Maine’s carbon pollution, and 27% of those emissions are from medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Reducing emissions from these heavier vehicles is a key part of Maine’s Climate Action Plan, which is why the Natural Resources Council of Maine is supporting the Maine Read More
