Reduced state aid to municipalities and schools is what’s putting the pinch on taxpayers. Portland Press Herald editorial For years, Gov. LePage has blamed schools for being unwilling to control costs. Now, he says, it was the land trusts all along. On the radio, in his recent State of the State address and in a 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!
Maine Land Trusts Say Governor Uses Bogus Data in Pitch to Tax Them
Conservation advocates call his claims misleading and say he ignores payments made to host towns in lieu of taxes. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is once again accusing conservation groups of “ripping off” taxpayers in Maine by not paying local taxes on vast swaths of Read More
Wind Industry Sues LePage Administration Over Order Halting Permits
The Maine Renewable Energy Association claims that Gov. LePage violated Maine’s constitutional separation of powers when he issued a moratorium on new wind turbine permits. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Maine’s wind energy industry is challenging the constitutionality of a recent LePage administration executive order imposing a moratorium Read More
LePage Vows to Push Through $950M Project to Send Quebec Hydropower through Maine
By Christopher Cousins and Michael Shepherd, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Massachusetts chose a $950 million project headed by Maine utility Central Maine Power to be its backup option for a massive clean energy procurement that appeared headed to New Hampshire before regulators there nixed it last week. Maine Gov. Read More
LePage Policies, Not Land Trusts, Have Driven Up Property Taxes
Bangor Daily News editorial In Tuesday’s State of the State speech, Gov. Paul LePage highlighted a serious problem that deserves attention in Augusta and beyond. Maine’s property taxes are too high, and they are rising. LePage, however, identified the wrong source of the problem. The governor, a long-time critic of land conservation, blamed land trusts Read More
With Smart Planning, Potential Negatives of Wind Farms Can be Mitigated
A study specific to Maine will help, but the process should be transparent, with no moratorium on new projects. by Rachel Bouvier, an environmental economist and owner of rbouvier consulting, specializing in environmental and natural resource issues. Portland Press Herald op-ed Gov. LePage’s recent announcement of a moratorium on wind farms in certain areas of the Read More
Low Gas Tax, Not Electric Cars, Causing Shortfall in Maine Highway Fund
If today’s drivers contributed as much as their grandparents, there would be no problem. Portland Press Herald editorial Maine has a free-rider problem when it comes to infrastructure, but it’s not the one they are talking about in Augusta. Gov. LePage and his allies in the Legislature want to charge an annual fee to the Read More
Fact Checking LePage’s Statements on Land Trusts
by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story Governor LePage used a portion of his 90-minute State of the State address Tuesday to attack one of his favorite targets: land trusts. The governor blames them for taking too much land from the tax rolls in Maine and shifting the burden to property owners. But there’s a Read More
Plan to Allow Alewives, Eels in Sheepscot Pond Might be Delayed Again
State lawmakers said they want to see management information before the fishway at the Palermo lake is opened. by Jessica Lowell, staff writer Central Maine newspapers news story AUGUSTA — People who live around Sheepscot Pond lined up last week to tell state lawmakers that the lake should not be opened up to migrating alewives Read More
