The compromise would funnel money to both land conservation projects and Gov. LePage’s heating assistance program. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA – A House Democratic leader is trying to thaw the political freeze on the Land for Maine’s Future program by proposing a bond package to fund both land 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.
LePage: Stalling Conservation Bonds Helps ‘Poor’ in Battle with ‘Rich’
By John Swinconeck, The Times Record Times Record news story reprinted on bangordailynews.com BRUNSWICK, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Monday clarified the reasoning behind why he ordered an investigation into the Land for Maine’s Future program. “Just rumors. When you hear a lot of chatter, look into it,” said LePage, speaking after an assembly at Read More
Bill to Fix Clerical Error in Maine Energy-efficiency Law Advances
But its prospects are uncertain because of a likely veto by LePage. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill correcting a one-word clerical error potentially worth $38 million for an energy-efficiency program moved closer to final passage in the Legislature on Monday after weeks on the back burner. Read More
LePage Violating State Responsibility with Public Reserved Lands Harvest Plan
By Catherine B. Johnson, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Gov. Paul LePage threatens to increase logging on Maine’s Public Reserved Lands beyond sustainable levels and divert the revenues to unrelated purposes. But his plans run contrary to the origins, unique characteristics and purpose of these Lands. Maine has about 600,000 acres of Read More
Legislative Committee Scuttles LePage’s Energy Initiatives
Among the proposals rejected is one that would use money from timber harvesting on state land to help low-income residents with heating costs. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Several initiatives by Gov. Paul LePage, including a proposal to use money from timber harvesting on state land to help Read More
Saving Canada’s Boreal Forest
by Scott Weidensaul and Jeffrey V. Wells New York Times op-ed STRETCHING from interior Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland, and sandwiched between the prairies and the Arctic, North America’s boreal forest is a mind-boggling 1.5 billion acres in size — bigger even than the vast rain forests of the Brazilian Amazon or the Congo. And Read More
Maine Lawmakers Expected to Vote Thursday on Sweeping Energy Policy Bill
Policy changes proposed by the governor are intended to lower energy costs, but some provisions are opposed by clean-energy advocates and solar panel installers. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — No dramatic changes are likely this year in a state law that compensates homeowners with solar-electric panels for their Read More
LePage Administration’s Timber Harvest Proposal Meets Resistance
Environmental and conservation groups caution that the governor’s plan to fund heating assistance could lead to intensive logging on public lands and create a dangerous budget precedent. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The LePage administration made its case Wednesday for funneling money from logging on state-owned lands into Read More
Natural Resources Council: Climate Change Causing Rise in Ticks
By Nakell Williams WABI-TV news story Environmentalists say climate change is causing an increase in dangerous pests and preventing Mainers from enjoying the outdoors. The Natural Resources Council of Maine says, according to a recent report, climate change is behind the rise in ticks. They say the tick problem in Maine is getting worse because Read More