by Marina Villeneuve, The Associated Press Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — A judge has tossed a legal challenge of Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s executive order halting wind turbine permits in parts of Maine, while leaving the door open to revisit the topic. Superior Court Justice Andrew Horton said in his decision Friday 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.
Fish and Wildlife Department Critical of CMP Plan
By George Smith Bangor Daily News column Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has stepped up big time to criticize Central Maine Power’s proposal to construct a massive new transmission line through Maine to move electricity from Quebec to Massachusetts. The good people of New Hampshire rejected CMP’s proposal, so they’ve moved it to Read More
Enemies Line Up to Fight Power Line Project Through Maine
By Jon Chesto, Globe Staff Boston Globe news story Does the Baker administration have another Northern Pass on its hands? Northern Pass, of course, was the controversial power line project picked in January to draw hydroelectricity here from Canada. New Hampshire regulators quickly ended that. A backup plan — a 145-mile power line through western Read More
Solar Energy is Looking Up in Madison, Maine
I’ve seen plenty of solar panels before. Several years ago, my hometown of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, installed panels no bigger than cafeteria trays on every streetlight in town. My high school had a spattering of panels on the math building’s roof. At Bowdoin College, where I’ll be a junior in the fall, there are Read More
Transmission Lines Over Kennebec Gorge? That May be a Choke Point for Renewable Energy Advocates
A 145-mile power line that would carry hydroelectricity from Canada to Massachusetts – and carve a path through the scenic gorge – signals a bleak future for multistate projects in New England. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story WEST FORKS PLANTATION — Only a sharp eye would notice the small strips Read More
Gov. LePage Set Up Wind-Farm Review Panel to Meet in Private. Now, the Names of its Members are Secret.
The governor’s energy director says the 14 members of the advisory panel will be identified once the body is prepared to meet. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Gov. Paul LePage’s administration is refusing to identify the members of a public commission charged with reviewing the impact of wind farms on Read More
CMP, Hydro-Quebec Sign 20-year Power Contract with Massachusetts Utilities
by Staff Mainebiz news story Hydro-Quebec and Central Maine Power Co. announced Thursday they had signed an agreement with Massachusetts electric distribution companies to bring hydropower from Quebec to the Bay State via a 145-mile transmission line through Maine. The conclusion of contract negotiations with the electric distribution companies represents another major milestone for CMP’s Read More
CMP Inks Deal Crucial to $950M Plan to Pipe Hydropower through Western Maine
by Lori Valigra Bangor Daily News news story Central Maine Power Co.’s plan to build a transmission line from the Canadian border through western Maine to bring hydropower to Massachusetts passed a critical step Thursday, when the Maine utility and Massachusetts electricity distributors said they had signed a contract. The contract, which was not made Read More
CMP Has Not Demonstrated Climate Benefits for Transmission Project
So-Called New England Clean Energy Connect Not New Clean Energy NRCM news release Today, Massachusetts utilities announced agreement on a contract with Central Maine Power (CMP) for its proposed transmission project with Hydro-Quebec. The contract is subject to review and approval by the MA Dept. of Public Utilities and the project still requires approval by Read More