NRCM news release April 16, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – With final action today, the Maine Legislature has unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution calling on the President to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to drop its planned rollbacks of mercury pollution protections. EPA has proposed scaling back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), 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
Support of LD 955, An Act to Prohibit Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Drilling and Exploration
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. My name is Kristin Jackson. I am an outreach coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and I appreciate this opportunity to testify in support of LD 955, which would prohibit offshore oil and natural gas drilling and Read More
“Green New Deal” Contributes to Climate Conversations
Statement of Emmie Theberge, Federal Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Scientists from Maine and across the world have made clear we must take bold action on climate at the state and federal levels. The Green New Deal, like other climate proposals put forward in Congress, is stimulating the right conversation in Washington, D.C. and Read More
Moms Oppose Changes to EPA Mercury Rule
Maine has public-health advisories against eating fish from 14 bodies of water contaminated with mercury. By Andrea Sears Public News Service News Story March 20, 2019 AUGUSTA, Maine – Do your job, protect our kids. That’s the message dozens of mothers from 15 states took to Washington, D.C., this week. The Environmental Protection Agency has Read More
Mills Pulls Maine Out of Governors Offshore Oil and Gas Group
Former Gov. Paul LePage joined the group in 2015 and was the only New England governor in the coalition, staffed by oil and gas lobbyists. by Scott Thistle, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Janet Mills said Monday that Maine will no longer participate in the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition, Read More
It’s Official: 2018 was the Fourth Warmest Year on Record
by John Schwartz and Nadja Popovich New York Times news story View graphics from news story. NASA scientists announced Wednesday that the Earth’s average surface temperature in 2018 was the fourth highest in nearly 140 years of record-keeping and a continuation of an unmistakable warming trend. The data means that the five warmest years in Read More
Acting EPA Administrator Puts Mainers’ Health at Risk
Sen. Collins should protect her constituents and vote against Andrew Wheeler’s confirmation as permanent agency chief. by Tony Owens of Cape Elizabeth, an emergency room doctor at Maine Medical Center Portland Press Herald op-ed CAPE ELIZABETH — Throughout my career, I have focused on ensuring that families and children, both here in Maine and across Read More
Climate Change is a Top Priority for the New Crop of Governors — Even One Republican
“For all his bluster and tweeting, Donald Trump cannot stop us from moving forward in our states,” Washington’s governor told BuzzFeed News. by Zahra Hirji, BuzzFeed News Reporter Buzzfeed news story His first week on the job, Florida’s new Republican governor made a surprise announcement. In sharp contrast to the previous administration, Ron DeSantis signed Read More
Collins Reintroduces Bill that Would Track Mercury Pollution
By Patty Wight Maine Public news story Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is reintroducing a bill that would track mercury pollution to better protect human health and fisheries. The American Lung Association supports the bill. The vice-chair of the Maine chapter, Dr. Marguerite Pennoyer, says better monitoring is important, paired with federal efforts Read More