By CBS 13 Bangor Daily News news story A solar park planned for the Ocean Avenue landfill is finally up and running. The facility is the third city-owned solar project in Portland. The solar array positioned above the Ocean Avenue Dog Quarry Park is officially online, meaning Portland City Hall will be powered by the 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!
New Trails Opening in 2019 in Katahdin Woods and Waters
By Aislinn Sarnacki, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story New trails are being constructed in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument as a part of a $120,000 project to improve visitor access to scenic ponds and other natural highlights on the conserved property. “This trail work is really the first improvement on the Read More
Cars, Trucks, Boats, Planes Add Most Emissions in Maine
In our large, rural state with few mass-transit options, transportation’s slice of the greenhouse-gas pie grows. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The more than 1.5 million cars, trucks, boats and planes in Maine account for an ever-greater share of the state’s greenhouse gas pollution, presenting major regulatory challenges at a Read More
Solar Power Achieved a New England Milestone on Chilly Thanksgiving
Sun-generated electricity reached a level that actually shifted peak energy demand away from the usual midmorning, showing solar’s growing role on the region’s electric grid. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story On last month’s historically cold Thanksgiving Day, New England turkeys were being roasted by the sun. For the first time, Read More
Large Maine Solar Producers Win Exemption from Costly Meter Installations
Regulators saw little benefit to ratepayers from a requirement that companies with large solar arrays pay to have expensive meters installed. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Clean-energy advocates won a partial victory Wednesday when the Maine Public Utilities Commission agreed to exempt large electric customers from a recent regulatory policy that Read More
Maine Regulators Partially Undo Controversial Solar Metering Rule
By Fred Bever Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. State regulators are partially unwinding what they had hoped was a solution to inequities in the way solar power users are compensated for excess electricity they supply to the grid. Last year, after several legislative attempts to reform the state’s solar rules were Read More
Midcoast Communities Gear Up for Plastic Bag, Styrofoam Bans
By Lauren Abbate, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story A ban on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers approved by Rockland officials earlier this year will take effect at the start of the new year. A similar ban will also take effect in April for Camden residents. The Rockland City Council approved the Read More
Maine PUC Stops Tax on Medium & Large Customers Using Their Own Solar Power
Determines “gross metering” costs ratepayers too much NRCM News Release Today the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a petition from Insource Renewables to suspend so-called “gross metering” for medium and large electricity users, citing excessive costs to all ratepayers to implement the policy. “Gross metering” was adopted by the PUC two years ago to Read More
Opponents Rail against CMP’s Proposed 145-mile Transmission Line at Durham Forum
By Hannah LaClaire, Times Record Staff Times Record news story DURHAM — Proponents say a planned 145-mile powerline cutting across Western Maine, terminating in Lewiston, would be a boon for renewable energy. The New England Clean Energy Connect would allow Central Maine Power to deliver hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts. For boosters of tourism and Read More
