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
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.
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
Health Professionals Alarmed by Oil Industry Denials; Call Tar Sands Smokestacks a Serious Health Threat
Doctors, seniors, parents, coaches, voice concerns Protect South Portland news release Local physicians, coaches, seniors, and the American Lung Association gathered today at the Betsy Ross House, a senior-citizen residency in South Portland just a half mile from the proposed tar sands smokestacks, to express their serious concern about the health impacts of a tar Read More
Climate Experts: Warming in Maine Leading to Declining Moose, Lobster Populations
By Mario Moretto, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — Climate change is real, human activity is causing it, and its effects will leave Maine — and the planet — “fundamentally degraded.” That was the message delivered by renowned climatologist Michael Mann, who spoke to a packed auditorium at the University of Read More
Climate Change Threatens Fisheries, Including Maine’s Brook Trout
by George Smith Kennebec Journal column WE’VE HEARD AND read a lot about the alarming increase in green crabs in coastal waters, and the devastating impact the crabs have had on mussels and clams. Lobsters may be next. The city of Brunswick even appropriated $100,000 to work with local clammers to try to save their Read More
