by Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The puffins are having a better year. On a late June day, the adults are landing on the rocky shore of this 7-acre bird sanctuary in flights of three or four, their bright red and yellow beaks stuffed with sand lance, tiny haddock and white 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.
Presque Isle Farm Installing 720-panel Solar Facility
Smith’s Farm will use the power to run its cooling and packing operation. The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story WESTFIELD — A Maine energy company says it has installed the largest privately owned solar facility in the state at a farm operation near the far northern border with Canada. Maine Energy Performance Solutions Read More
St. Agatha Farm Prepares to Go Solar in a Big Way
By Julia Bayly, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story ST. AGATHA, Maine — It’s not much to look at right now, just 20 giant poles stuck in the ground in the middle of a northern Maine field, but to Keith LaBrie, it’s money in the bank. By next summer the poles will each support Read More
Maine’s Leadership on Climate Change Helps Lower Energy Costs, Too
By Warren Kessler, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Over the past decade, Maine has taken several leadership steps on climate change. We were the first state to adopt a law setting targets and establishing a state plan to reduce carbon emissions. Maine then helped develop and joined the first multistate program to Read More
Winslow Passes Rules to Pave the Way for Massive Solar Project
Ranger Solar of Yarmouth has proposed building a $25 million commercial solar station on about 100 acres. By Peter McGuire, Central Maine Central Maine newspapers news story WINSLOW — Town councilors unanimously approved regulations on utility-scale solar-electric projects, paving the way for possible construction of a huge commercial solar array in town. In short order Read More
Update @Pontifex: Pope Francis Goes to Washington
Update on my June blog post on Pope Francis’s encyclical on climate change: Pope Francis arrived in DC on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday morning, addressed the nation from the lawn of the White House, so it seems like a good time to update my blog post from June. Although the Pope addressed a lot Read More
Diverse Leaders Call for Strong Efficiency Plan to Maximize Energy Savings
Efficiency Maine Trust seeks input on 3-year plan that will go to PUC NRCM News Release Augusta, ME – Today, as the Efficiency Maine Trust is holding a public input session, a diverse group of experts called on Efficiency Maine and the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to develop and approve, respectively, a strong three-year Read More
Officials: Low Heating Oil Prices Could Create Incentives for Energy Efficiency Projects
By A.J. Higgins MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Energy prices are dropping, but energy and environmental advocates say that doesn’t mean that homeowners and business owners should defer heating improvements. In fact, they say Mainers can use some of the money they save on oil to pay for an energy audit or install new, Read More
No Need to Cut Public Forests to Achieve LePage’s Heating Goal
By Ralph Chapman, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to aid “fellow Mainers who are most in need” with home heating assistance deserves further consideration, as it is a worthy goal. Most of the attention to his plan has focused on problems with his proposed source of funding (increased Read More