The report says hydropower from Quebec would merely be redirected to a new U.S. market and will not affect emission reductions regionally, a claim Hydro-Quebec refutes. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Hours before a much-anticipated public hearing on the merits of a new transmission line through western Maine, an analysis 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!
Climate Impact Key to Maine Power Line Decision
We need to know how Hydro-Quebec will meet all of its energy contracts. Portland Press Herald editorial The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report last week should put every planning decision in sharp focus. Ninety-one of the world’s top climate scientists say that we have about a decade left to radically change our consumption Read More
Sobering New U.N. Report Validates Climate Science, Economics
A price on carbon and an internationally coordinated and enforceable effort are surely the way forward. by Michael Jones, Brunswick resident and associate professor of economics emeritus at Bowdoin College Portland Press Herald op-ed BRUNSWICK — The news Monday proclaimed two remarkable, and related, events. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations committee comprised Read More
U.N. Climate Report is Our Pearl Harbor Moment
The politics of division won’t work to fight a threat like global warming. Portland Press Herald editorial The events of the last two years show that Americans know how to choose up sides and fight each other. But if we had to, could we put aside our differences and fight together? We are about to Read More
Reject CMP Power Line because Hydro-Quebec Facilities Damage Ecosystem
Wintertime discharges from the company’s dam reservoirs are warming the Gulf of Maine, starving its fisheries and may be a key factor in the decline of Arctic sea ice. By Stephen M. Kasprzak, resident of Cape Porpoise Portland Press Herald op-ed CAPE PORPOISE — I am writing to ask the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Read More
Maine Regulators Invite More Public Comment on CMP Hydro Project
The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Friday ordered Central Maine Power to make redacted versions of certain confidential documents public per the request of the Maine Public Advocate. By Lori Valigra Bangor Daily News news story The Maine Public Utilities Commission will hold the last of three hearings to let the public comment on Central Read More
Estimated Cost of Penobscot River Mercury Cleanup Balloons to More than $240M
By Bill Trotter and Judy Harrison, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story The recommended remediation of the Penobscot River estuary due to mercury pollution from a defunct chemical plant would cost between $246 million and $333 million, according to a report filed Tuesday in federal court in Bangor. That is far higher than a Read More
Somerset County Residents Want Commissioners to Oppose CMP Power Line
In January commissioners supported the $1 billion, 145-mile CMP transmission line to carry hydropower from Canada to Massachusetts. by Doug Harlow, Staff Writer Central Maine newspapers news story SKOWHEGAN — More than two dozen people packed the Somerset County Commissioners’ meeting Wednesday afternoon with one message to the board: Reconsider your support of Central Maine Read More
Let DEP Know You Support Upgrading Our Rivers and Streams
By George Smith Bangor Daily News column Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection has proposed exciting upgrades for more than 400 miles of rivers and streams. Although this is supposed to be something that’s done every three years, this is the first time in almost 10 years that the DEP has proposed to upgrade water quality Read More
