By Harry Sanborn, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Tens of thousands of tons of municipal solid waste from all over eastern Maine are now heading directly to landfills. This is a monumental tragedy for Maine’s environment, and it is sad that state officials charged with protecting Maine’s environment seem to be looking 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!
Irving’s Plan for Aroostook Lakes Region Includes Commercial, Residential Development
by Staff Mainebiz news story J.D. Irving’s proposed concept plan for 51,000 acres in Aroostook County asks the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to allow new commercial and residential development around the Fish River Lakes chain, in addition to conservation plans and continued logging operations. The Bangor Daily News reported the plan for Irving’s acreage Read More
NextEra Energy Moves Forward on First of Four Large Maine Solar Farms
by Maureen Milliken Mainebiz news story When NextEra Energy’s planned 20 megawatt solar project in Fairfield received Maine Department of Environmental Protection approval in last month, it was the first of several large-scale projects planned for Maine. The solar array is the largest approved by the department in the state so far, but if the Read More
State Mulling New Camping Options at Eagle Lake, Deboullie
by Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story ASHLAND, Maine — The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands is hosting a public meeting in Ashland Wednesday to gather input on a proposal to add and expand campsites at public reserve lands around Eagle Lake and Deboullie Mountain. The Bureau of Parks and Lands, Read More
Maine Lawmakers Tell Massachusetts Officials to Reject CMP Project
By Fred Bever & Keith Shortall Maine Public news story A bipartisan group of influential Maine lawmakers is telling Massachusetts regulators to reject Central Maine Power’s (CMP) proposal to build a big transmission line through western Maine. The 145-mile high voltage line would bring electricity from Hydro-Québec’s dam system in Canada down to Massachusetts consumers. Read More
Maine Lawmakers Voice Objections to CMP Power Line in Letter to Massachusetts Regulators
The co-chairmen of two legislative committees say they don’t think the 145-mile transmission line proposed by CMP would benefit Maine. By Ray Routhier, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The bipartisan leaders of two legislative committees who disapprove of a proposed 145-mile power transmission line through western Maine sent a letter to regulators in Read More
Mainers Call for Removal of Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator
NRCM news release Bangor, Maine – Today, health experts, elected officials, businesspeople, affected citizens, conservation leaders, and others called for the removal of Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The group released a letter signed by more than 1,000 people to President Trump saying that Administrator Pruitt is “unfit to Read More
CMP Faces Backlash Over 145-Mile Transmission Line from Environmentalists and Power Plants Alike
By Fred Bever Maine Public news story Most of the time, environmental advocates and the owners of fossil-fuel power plants battle over how much pollution is acceptable, given the need to keep the lights on. But in Maine, they are now aligning against a common enemy – Central Maine Power (CMP). CMP wants to build Read More
June Trial Set for Lawsuit Over South Portland’s “Clear Skies” Law
by Juliette Laaka The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The lawsuit challenging the city’s Clear Skies Ordinance is scheduled to go to trial June 18 in U.S. District Court. The City Council transferred more than half a million dollars to the ordinance defense fund Tuesday in anticipation of the trial, and approved zoning changes Read More