Senator Ron Collins, Chair Representative Andrew McLean, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Transportation My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM.) Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. NRCM strongly opposes this legislation, which would undermine Maine’s ability to reduce our 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.
EPA Cuts Could Mean Trouble for Maine
WGME news story Watch full news video. PORTLAND (WGME) — The Trump administration is proposing deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, and if those cuts are approved, some say it could mean trouble for Maine. A new report released Thursday by the Natural Resources Council of Maine says the president’s 2018 budget singles out Read More
New Report: Proposed EPA Cuts Put State’s Environment At Risk
by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story A new report from the Natural Resources Council of Maine paints a bleak picture of what could happen in Maine if the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency are adopted. The proposal calls for cutting the agency’s budget 31 percent, slashing 3,200 jobs and eliminating Read More
Portland Councilors Want City to Use 100% Clean Energy by 2040
Portland Press Herald news story Portland city councilors will consider a new goal of powering municipal operations with 100 percent clean energy by 2040. City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau, chairman of the Sustainability and Transportation Committee, is presenting the goal in the form of a council resolution. Thibodeau will formally announce the goal Thursday at a Read More
Report Documents Damage to Maine if Proposed EPA Budget Cuts are Approved
NRCM news release Augusta, Maine – The Trump Administration has proposed deep cuts to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs that reduce pollution in Maine, save the lives of Maine people, and strengthen our communities and economy. According to a comprehensive new report by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Administration’s unprecedented proposed cuts to Read More
Deeper EPA Cuts Pose a Particular Menace to Maine
Critics say both the environment and the economy would be hard hit by losses in funding for Superfund sites and water quality monitoring. By Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The deeper cuts proposed by the Trump administration would slash funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund cleanup activities and eliminate its Read More
A Subsidy Maine Electric Customers Pay to Encourage Renewable Energy Up for Review
Lawmakers will consider two bills that seek to address deficiencies in the Renewable Portfolio Standard, which even advocates admit isn’t working as intended. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story A multimillion-dollar subsidy that Maine electric customers pay to encourage the use of renewable power is up for review in the Legislature Read More
Neither For Nor Against LD 1149, An Act To Provide Revenue To Fix and Rebuild Maine’s Infrastructure and in Support of LD 1150, Resolve, To Establish the Road Usage Charge Task Force
My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM.) Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony on these two related bills. NRCM supports some provisions in LD 1149 and opposes others. We support LD 1150 and have some suggestions for additional considerations Read More
Wind Power Foes: Don’t Ruin Maine’s Beauty to Feed “Green Energy” Demands
Although wind energy is supported by many environmentalists, those who oppose development in the Moosehead region feel the reality of wind power would mean no real reduction in Maine By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — Wind power opponents near Moosehead Lake are worried that Massachusetts interests are going Read More
