by Bobby Bascomb Living on Earth story An unusual collaboration has led to a deal that will remove two dams on the largest river in Maine. As Living on Earth’s Bobby Bascomb reports, the Penobscot River dam removals will not only benefit native fish, but also the hydroelectric utility. GELLERMAN: Over the past decade, more 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!
Orono, Stillwater Dam Upgrades to Fill Energy Gap Left by Removal of Other Dams
By Nick McCrea, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Two dams have received approval to boost their energy capacity and fill the gap left when three other Penobscot River dams are demolished or decommissioned over the next two to three years. The Department of Environmental Protection cleared Black Bear Hydro Partners LLC, the company Read More
Historic River Reclamation Impacts All of New England
Dave Sartwell Gloucester Times news story The Penobscot River in Maine is on the verge of an historic reclamation. The Lower Penobscot River Restoration Project has cleared what at first seemed insurmountable opposition to removing dams and restoring the natural flow of the river. Although the implementation will take several years, all of the agreements Read More
Salmon’s Return Means Much to Tribe
By Tom Bell, State House Writer Maine Sunday Telegram news story INDIAN ISLAND – In 1835, when the new dam at Veazie was closed in the winter, blocking all fish passage, the Penobscot Indians protested that the dam would destroy the annual runs of salmon and other sea-run fish. Their complaints went unheeded, even when Read More
Pipeline Project Could Turn Maine Into ‘Dirty Tar Sands Oil’ Capital of the Eastern U.S.
NRCM Joins Protest of Phase I of “Trailbreaker” Pipeline NRCM news release The Natural Resources Council of Maine has joined with four other environmental organizations in an effort to block a Canadian pipeline project that could make Portland, Maine, the “tar sands capital” of the eastern United States. The groups have sent a letter that calls Read More
Study Commission for Maine’s North Woods Criticized as “Rigged from the Start”
NRCM news release The Natural Resources Council of Maine and Environment Maine today expressed deep concern that a study commission on the future of Maine’s North Woods will not provide an objective assessment, but instead has been stacked with people who are determined to abolish Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC). The 13 members of Read More
Lawsuit Challenges Clean Air Act Exemption for Biomass Burners
Clean Air Task Force Washington — Conservation groups filed suit today challenging an Environmental Protection Agency rule that exempts biomass-burning facilities from carbon dioxide limits under the Clean Air Act for the next three years. The Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Georgia ForestWatch, Natural Resources Council of Maine, and Wild Virginia are asking Read More
Alewives Spark Legal Debate
By Nick Bennett, NRCM Staff Scientist Maine Lobsterman’s Association newsletter August 2011 guest column More than two years ago, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association joined the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Maine Rivers and nearly 50 other conservation, sporting, and commercial fishing groups in petitioning the International Joint Commission (IJC) to reopen Read More
52 Miles of Kennebec River Shoreline Blocked from Development
From BDN and Wire Reports Bangor Daily News news story INDIAN STREAM TOWNSHIP, Maine — Maine officials say the state has been granted a conservation easement on Indian Pond at the headwaters of the Kennebec River. According to Gov. Paul LePage’s office, FPL Energy Maine Hydro LLC granted the easement as part of a settlement Read More
