Legislation aimed at holding Maine’s largest electric utilities accountable for poor performance took a big step forward today when the Maine State Senate voted 20-14 to approve an amended version of LD 1959, sponsored by Senator Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland). The landmark bill would create a system for evaluating performance of Maine’s utilities against specific metrics Read More
Maine Environmental News
Maine environmental news often comes quickly and with little warning. Stay up to date on Maine environment news.
From issues such as climate change, healthy waters, Maine forests and wildlife, and sustainability—and environmental policy that could impact them—you’ll find NRCM’s up-to-the-minute news releases to see our perspective on the most pressing issues facing Maine’s land, air, waters, and wildlife. This includes findings relating to our role as Maine’s watchdog of activities of state environmental agencies—we stand ready to blow the whistle when regulations are not enforced.
You can also find our news “round up,” News & Noteworthy, which puts the spotlight on media stories that do a particularly good job capturing current news about Maine's environment. We hope you find this part of our website helpful and informative!
Groups Urge Legislature to Take Action on Clean Energy to Create Jobs and Reduce Costs
News release by the Associated General Contractors of Maine, Natural Resources Council of Maine, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, and Maine Renewable Energy Association In the face of rising energy costs for Maine ratepayers caused by overreliance on natural gas and home heating oil and an urgent call from the world’s scientists to reduce fossil Read More
River Classification Upgrades Will Protect Maine’s Clean Water
NRCM news release April 4, 2022 (Augusta, ME) – More than 800 miles of rivers and streams in Maine will receive stronger protections from pollution under new standards signed into law on Thursday, March 31st. The water quality upgrades contained in LD 1964 are the result of a review conducted every three years by the Read More
Conservationists Call on Brookfield to Protect Endangered Salmon as Spring Migration Begins
Kennebec Coalition and Conservation Law Foundation news release April 1, 2022 (Augusta, ME) – As juvenile Atlantic salmon begin their spring migration to and from the Gulf of Maine, conservation groups are calling on the owner of four Kennebec River dams to act to prevent illegal injuries and death to this critically endangered fish species. Read More
New Law Will Expand Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
Maine Audubon and Natural Resources Council of Maine news release A bill that will expand Maine’s network of ecological reserves to protect more habitat for the state’s rich array of plants, animals, and other species was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on Tuesday March 29, 2022. State-owned ecological reserves cover less than 1% Read More
News & Noteworthy — January – March 2022
Read some highlights from news stories and opinion pieces related to the environment, including Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife: March 2022 Let’s start with some great news about a few of the bills that NRCM has been involved with this legislative session: Tuesday, Governor Mills signed into law LD 736, a bill to expand Read More
NRCM CEO Lisa Pohlmann Announces Retirement
Pohlmann spent past decade strengthening Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group to meet today’s challenges NRCM news release March 9, 2022 (Augusta, ME) – Lisa Pohlmann announced today that she will be retiring and stepping down as CEO of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) by the end of 2022. Pohlmann was NRCM’s first female Read More
Bill to Close Out-of-state Waste Loophole Approved by Legislative Committee
News release by Don’t Waste ME, Community Action Works, and the Natural Resources Council of Maine February 7, 2022 (Augusta, ME) – A bill to stop filling Maine’s landfills with out-of-state waste received a key endorsement today when a bipartisan majority of the Legislature’s Environment & Natural Resources Committee voted 11-2* in favor. LD 1639 Read More
News & Noteworthy — October – December 2021
Read some highlights from this month’s news stories and opinion pieces related to the environment, including Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife, in this December 2021 News & Noteworthy from the Natural Resources Council of Maine. December 2021 NRCM Climate & Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator Josh Caldwell is featured in this Bangor Daily News piece Read More
