By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Opposition is mounting to Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to limit Maine’s role in a 13-state initiative designed to curb the production of smog under the federal Clean Air Act. Numerous environmental groups and legislative Democrats weighed in against the proposal on Read More
Federal Climate & Energy Issues
NRCM partners with Mainers, businesses, and other local organizations to push Congress and the federal government to take ambitious climate action that will create millions of new jobs, deliver home-grown clean energy to power our future, and protect our health.
Working together with our supporters, NRCM has successfully advocated for the largest investment in climate in U.S. history and billions in infrastructure funding to make our communities more resilient. Moving forward, we will continue to hold Congress accountable to their responsibility to accelerate the transition to clean energy to avert the worst impacts of climate change
LePage Administration Proposes Weakening Smog Regulations
The proposed changes seek to exempt some industrial polluters from several measures aimed at reducing ground-level ozone. By Colin Woodard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is seeking to weaken one of the state’s key anti-smog regulations. The proposed changes would exempt major new or newly-upgraded industrial polluters Read More
Federal Court Strikes Down EPA’s Biomass Pollution Loophole
EcoWatch news story On Friday, a key federal court ruling confirmed that Clean Air Act limits on carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution apply to industrial facilities that burn biomass, including tree-burning power plants. The court vacated an exemption that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had carved out for “biogenic carbon dioxide.” The decision, by a Read More
Learning about Lobsters
I get to do some pretty cool things thanks to my job at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I met Bonnie Raitt at a concert on the eve of the removal of the Edwards Dam. NRCM was invited to work at a Phish concert (how cool is that?!) in Augusta. I met Senator George Read More
Maine Coalition: Less Carbon Pollution Would Benefit Lobsters
Businesses and environmentalists say Maine should endorse President Obama’s climate-change plan to help protect the state’s most important fishery. by North Cairn, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story PORTLAND — Drastically reducing carbon emissions would likely slow the negative effects of climate change on the Gulf of Maine lobster industry, leaders of the Maine Read More
Scientists: Maine Lobster Industry Threatened by Climate Change
by Susan Sharon MPBN news story It’s that time of year when native Mainers and summer tourists alike don plastic bibs and get crackin’ on succulent Maine lobsters. Last year lobstermen landed about $340 million worth of these coveted crustaceans, generating $1 billion worth of economic activity to the state’s economy. But there’s a largely Read More
Maine Leaders Hold News Conference In Support of President Obama’s New Carbon Pollution Standard
Press Release Today, a group of Maine leaders held a news conference at Portland City Hall to explain their support for the federal clean air and climate change safeguards announced yesterday by President Obama. Yesterday Obama unveiled a significant new plan that would help America do its part to tackle climate change, spur economic opportunities, Read More
NRCM’s Response to President Obama’s Climate Action Plan
NRCM press release Yesterday, President Obama announced a major climate change action plan that will help Maine and all Americans tackle the gravest environmental threat of our time, plus spur economic opportunities, and protect our health. We are pleased that the President has listened to the American people and shown his leadership and determination to Read More
Climate Change Threatens New England Birds
The decline in bird populations also poses a threat to Maine’s tourism and recreation industry. by North Cairn, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Climate change is posing a threat to Maine’s tourism and recreation industry by changing the lives of scores of species of New England birds, according to wildlife biologists. Bird experts Read More