The manner in which oil interests defeated the Waterfront Protection Ordinance may not serve them well going forward. by Mike Tipping Portland Press Herald column As the victorious Greek King Pyrrhus surveyed the battlefield of Asculum in Southern Italy in 279 B.C. he counted the depressing number of his soldiers and commanders who lay dead Read More
Climate
Climate change and global warming pollution harm Maine people, wildlife, and our environment. Among the highest rates of childhood asthma in the nation, rising seas and severe storms battering our coastal homes and towns, warming and more acidic oceans threatening fisheries, too many “bad air days,” more and more tick-borne diseases, threats to our fall foliage and winter tourism industries—these are among the many health, environmental, and economic problems climate change pollution is causing here in Maine.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine is working to reduce climate-changing pollution by making Maine more energy efficient. We work to provide clean, renewable energy and cleaner more efficient vehicles that will reduce Maine’s contribution to air pollution and climate change to ensure Maine people and wildlife have clean air to breathe.
South Portland Seeks Time, ‘Cooling Off’ on Tar Sands
City councilors prepare to pass a six-month moratorium to buy time to examine the issue. by Matt Byrne, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — City Councilors prepared Wednesday to pass a six-month moratorium on any project that would bring so-called tar sands crude oil into South Portland. The highly charged discussion Read More
South Portland Voters Reject Ordinance Targeting Tar Sands Oil
But supporters say they plan a second ordinance to prevent the shipment of the oil through the city. by Matt Byrne, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The controversial proposal to ban so-called tar sands oil from South Portland was defeated Tuesday in a close citywide vote. The final tally was Read More
South Portland Tar Sands Opponents Vow to Continue Fight
by Patty B. Wight MPBN news story South Portland voters Tuesday narrowly defeated an ordinance to block tar sands oil from coming to the city. But those against having the thick oil flow through Maine’s pipelines are still declaring victory. That’s because the city council is holding a workshop tonight to decide whether to enact Read More
Maine Needs to Move Forward with Offshore Wind
Statoil’s departure should not obscure all the progress of this renewable energy resource. by Paul Williamson Portland Press Herald op-ed PORTLAND — There has been a lot said about the terminated Statoil Offshore Wind Project in past weeks with months of additional comment leading up to this period. Yes, it is a loss to our Read More
NRCM Congratulates South Portland Residents for Hard-fought Campaign to Protect Community
Laments relentless oil industry spending on misinformation campaign Statement of NRCM CEO Lisa Pohlmann, on South Portland Waterfront South Portland, ME — Today’s vote of 4,453 against and 4,261 for — a 200-vote margin — on the Waterfront Protection Ordinance to protect South Portland from tar sands is a disappointing outcome for the people of Read More
Killing of Statoil Project for Political Reasons Hurt Maine and Its Workers
Gov. LePage’s contempt for wind power blocked an opportunity and, worse, harmed Maine’s reputation. By Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland Portland Press Herald op-ed PORTLAND — It’s not often that Maine — or, frankly, any state — has an opportunity to become the home, the hub, of a worldwide innovator. It’s not often that Maine Read More
New Carbon Emissions Rules Offer Great Benefits to Maine
by Tom Tietenberg Kennebec Journal op-ed A few years ago, I served on a panel as part of a National Academy of Sciences study titled “America’s Climate Choices.” One of the takeaway lessons from that study was that carbon dioxide has a very long residence time in the atmosphere, up to 1,000 years. It is Read More
South Portland Tar Sands Opponents Fear Pipeline Project, Cite Health Hazards
by Jackie Farwell, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story SOUTH PORTLAND — Local residents determined to prevent the delivery of Canadian tar sands oil through a pipeline to tankers in South Portland warned Tuesday of the potential health hazards, even as a pipeline official again insisted the company has no such plans. A 236-mile-long Read More