Critics of the governor’s intent to increase timber harvesting and divert its revenues worry about a shift in how forests are managed. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Nestled between Moosehead Lake and Baxter State Park are 44,000 acres of state-owned land where hikers roam Maine’s largest roadless backcountry and fishermen 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!
Two Maine Nonprofits Unveil Solar-power Systems
The system installed at Wells Reserve at Laudholm is expected to provide all of the research facility’s electricity needs while Maine Audubon’s new system will meet 80 percent of the needs at its Falmouth headquarters. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Two Maine conservation organizations marked spring’s arrival Friday by unveiling Read More
Lawmakers Should Fix the Missing ‘And’ So Energy Efficiency Work is Not Cut Back
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial At $12 million per letter, a missing “and” in a state law has proven an expensive error now that the state Public Utilities Commission used inadvertently flawed statutory language to cut funding for Maine’s energy efficiency work by $36 million. The PUC earlier this week took Read More
Top House Republican Says He’d Work to Restore $38 Million to Efficiency Maine
Rep. Kenneth Fredette, a leading advocate for a 2013 energy law, agrees that a drafting error likely led to the PUC vote to cut funding and calls criticism of the agency unfair. By Steve Mistler. Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette, R-Newport, said Thursday that he is Read More
GOP Leader Wants Controversial PUC Decision Overturned
By Mal Leary MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Lawmakers may act to overturn a controversial Maine Public Utilities Commission decision that would slash programs to help people heat their homes and reduce electricity costs. House Republican Leader Ken Fredette of Newport, while defending the PUC’s conclusion, wants it overturned with legislation, if necessary. In Read More
LePage Bond Threat Puts Land Preservation—and Maine’s Reputation—at Risk
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Gov. Paul LePage has again threatened to withhold bond funding until he gets what he wants. This time, he is holding hostage money for the Land for Maine’s Future program — bonds voters approved in 2010 and 2012 — until he gets approval to cut more Read More
Maine Regulators’ Ruling Could Wipe Out Heating System Upgrade Funding
By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — Programs that help Maine homeowners and businesses pay for heating system improvements could be on the chopping block if a decision capping funding for the Efficiency Maine Trust goes unchanged by the Legislature. Michael Stoddard, executive director of Efficiency Maine, said Wednesday Read More
A Missing ‘And’ Cut Efficiency Maine’s Possible Funding in Half
By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Little did we know, the word “and” could be worth somewhere in the range of $36 million. The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday capped the amount of money it can require utilities to give to the Efficiency Maine Trust, which subsidizes energy savings projects Read More
For Efficiency Maine, the Word ‘And’ Made a $38 Million Difference
Lawmakers slam the state Public Utilities Commission for not considering ‘legislator intent’ in a decision that will cut funding for the energy efficiency program. By Kevin Miller and Steve Mistler, Staff Writers Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — One missing word in the Legislature’s 2013 energy law will reduce funding for energy efficiency programs Read More