NRCM news release Today the Maine House voted 137-0 to pass “An Act Regarding Maine’s Energy Future.” The bill was drafted by a joint select committee created this session by Speaker Hannah Pingree and Senate President Libby Mitchell. The bill sets ambitious goals to weatherize 100% of Maine residences and half of Maine businesses by 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!
Remarks on LURC’s Deliberations on Plum Creek’s Moosehead Lake Development Proposal
NRCM Statement By Brownie Carson, NRCM Executive Director Today, Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission is holding what is supposed to be its final deliberation about Plum Creek’s massive development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. Although a final vote on Plum Creek’s revised plan is not expected until July 1st, the direction of this proceeding Read More
Maine Adopts First-in-the-nation Law to Recycle Mercurcy-containing Light Bulbs
New law protects families and the environment; saves taxpayer money NRCM news release The Maine House and Senate have voted to support a new, first-in-the-nation, law to help reduce mercury pollution by requiring compact fluorescent light bulb manufacturers to share the costs and responsibility for recycling their mercury-containing bulbs. Governor Baldacci is expected to sign Read More
NRCM Supports Record Hill Wind Power Project
Would generate enough clean electricity annually to power 20,000 homes Citing the benefits of clean renewable power to Maine people and our environment, the Natural Resources Council of Maine today announced its support for the 55megawatt (MW) Record Hill Wind Power Project proposed to be developed in Roxbury, Maine. A permit application currently is being Read More
Bipartisan Elected Leaders Rally for Land for Maine’s Future
News release AUGUSTA – In a broad display of bipartisan support, legislative leaders joined citizens, sportsmen, conservationists, farmers, businesses, and community leaders to encourage the Legislature to replenish the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program. Led by Sen. Bill Diamond (D-Windham), nearly 85 like-minded legislators co-sponsored LD 684, which would allocate $87.5 million over four Read More
Plum Creek Violates Erosion Regulations
NRCM Calls on LURC to Impose Fines NRCM news release Based on an evaluation of internal documents from Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) concludes that Plum Creek and one of its logging contractors, Theriault Tree Harvesting (TTH), last fall violated Maine regulations designed to protect water quality Read More
Environmental Groups Critical of Plum Creek and Maine Regulators
by Susan Sharon Maine Public Radio news story Just days after the Plum Creek Timber Company acknowledged that it mistakenly logged a deer wintering area and violated a voluntary agreement with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the company is under fire again; and so is the state agency that oversees land use in Read More
NRCM and Other Conservation Groups Sue EPA Over Power Plant Air Toxic Pollution
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, a coalition of state and national public health and environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), filed a lawsuit in federal court here, seeking a firm and enforceable new deadline for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require deep reductions in mercury and other toxic air pollutants emitted Read More
NRCM Award Goes to Scarborough Mom for Her Work to Stop Toxic Pollution
A Scarborough mom has been honored for her work to pass legislation safeguarding the health of Maine’s children from the threat of toxic chemicals in consumer products. Elisa Boxer-Cook was presented with the 2008 Natural Resources Council of Maine Environmental Award. In accepting the award, Boxer-Cook shared the emotional story of how, after building her Read More
