We can’t afford to let Maine’s shrimping and lobstering industries go down the tubes. By Mark Brewer, a trustee of the Maine Lobstering Union and resident of Boothbay Harbor Portland Press Herald op-ed BOOTHBAY HARBOR — I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard Gov. Paul LePage speak at a conference Dec. 5 about the Read More
Climate Change
Climate change and global warming pollution harm Maine people, wildlife, and our environment. Global warming, also known as climate change, is caused by a blanket of pollution that traps heat around the earth. This pollution comes from cars, factories, homes, and power plants that burn fossil fuels such as oil, coal, natural gas, and gasoline.
Climate-changing pollution knows no boundaries. It enters the atmosphere, spreads across the globe, and traps heat around the earth for 50-200 years after it is emitted. That is why we need to reduce global warming pollution now, because our children, and their children, will still feel the effects of global warming for years to come. Currently, the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are at their highest levels in hundreds of thousands of years.
Learn how you can reduce climate-changing pollution and advocate for a cleaner, healthier Maine.
South Portland Moratorium Allows City Time to Craft Tar Sands Policy
The City Council’s decision recognizes local concerns and the process by which rules are created. Portland Press Herald editorial The narrow defeat last month of the South Portland Waterfront Protection Ordinance didn’t put to rest efforts to keep Canadian tar sands oil from being shipped through the city’s port. Far from it. The day after Read More
South Portland Passes Moratorium on Tar Sands Oil
by Matt Byrne, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The City Council took its first concrete step Monday toward prohibiting Canadian oil sands from being shipped through the city’s port. The South Portland City Council took its first concrete step Monday toward prohibiting Canadian oil sands from being shipped through the Read More
Clam Diggers Can’t Weather Climate Change
Invasive green grabs are eating shellfish on which a $55 million industry depends. by Sara Randall Maine Sunday Telegram editorial FREEPORT — Clam diggers rely on a healthy marine environment in order to provide nourishing whole food to citizens and contribute to the economy. However, the ability of Maine’s diggers to continue their livelihood is Read More
Oil Industry Threatens Lawsuit Over S. Portland Tar Sands Moratorium
The American Petroleum Institute says the six-month moratorium on some waterfront development violates state and federal laws. by Matt Byrne, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story A national petroleum lobbying group is gearing up to sue the city of South Portland if it moves forward next week with a moratorium on loading Canadian tar-sands Read More
How to Prepare for Maine’s Next Big, Windy Industry
Bangor Daily News editorial One day, there will be an offshore wind energy industry in the United States. Maine can either prepare for it now — by fostering a stable environment for related business, technology and education growth — or lose later. New industries with potential to create thousands of jobs do not come to Read More
South Portland Tar Sands Ordinance Could Face Court Challenge
by Susan Sharon MPBN news story The American Petroleum Insititute has told South Portland that a moratorium on tar sands oil activity would likely violate a number of laws, as well as the Constitution’s Commerce Clause. The city of South Portland, which is currently considering a moratorium on the shipping of tar sands oil from Read More
LePage Criticized for Opting Maine Out of Anti-smog Effort
Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Environmental groups attacked Gov. Paul LePage on Monday for his refusal to sign a petition in favor of tough standards in nine states from which pollution affects air quality in Maine and other eastern states. Governors in eight northeastern and mid-Atlantic states — including every New England Read More
Feds Tell Portland Pipe Line Corp. that Any Future Plans to Carry Tar Sands Must be Reviewed
by Whit Richardson, staff writer Bangor Daily News news story SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — In what opponents are characterizing as a reversal of an earlier decision, the U.S. Department of State in August informed the Portland Pipe Line Corp. that it wants to review any future plans the company may propose to reverse the flow Read More
