by Darcie Moore, Times Record Staff Times Record news story The Natural Resources Council of Maine continues to fight for solar-friendly policies at the State House, aiming to reverse a new Maine Public Utilities Commission rule that threatens the future growth of solar power in Maine. NRCM Senior Director of Advocacy Pete Didisheim said at 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!
LePage’s Campaign against North Woods Monument Will Only Hurt Maine
By Gail Fanjoy and Larry MacArthur, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed On Feb. 14, Gov. Paul LePage wrote a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to rescind the executive order that created the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Aside from the fact that this letter asks Trump to use his Read More
Here’s How EPA Cuts, Policy Changes Could Affect Maine
By Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story President Donald Trump’s plans to shrink and redirect the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could have a severe impact on Maine where, according to one environmental advocacy official, state environmental programs already have been “cut down to the bone.” The Washington Post reported Wednesday that a Read More
New Rules Expected to Slow Residential Solar Power Growth, Advocates Say
By Lauren Abbate, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Solar power advocates are concerned that new rules approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission last month, and finalized in an order Wednesday, will slow residential solar power growth in Maine. The rules reduce the credits homeowners receive under state’s net-metering policy for the excess Read More
Charts: Maine’s Renewable Energy Production Surges with Opening of 2 New Wind Farms
Wind farms accounted for nearly a quarter of the state’s total electricity production in December, thanks in part to the opening of the state’s largest wind farm to date in Bingham. by Christian Milne, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story In December 2016, Maine’s wind farms accounted for nearly a quarter of Maine’s total Read More
Environmental Groups to Make Hard Push to Reverse Maine’s New Solar Rules
They say the PUC’s ‘extreme’ changes, which are opposed by the governor for different reasons, will stifle industry investment and were improperly adopted. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Maine’s largest environmental organization pledged Wednesday to “pursue every opportunity” to reverse controversial solar energy rules adopted by the state Read More
PUC Finalizes Extreme Anti-solar Rules
NRCM Prepared to Fight to Overturn Them in the Legislature Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Climate and Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC’s) new net metering rules include some of the most extreme anti-solar elements in the nation. They would roll back solar net metering, destroying good Maine Read More
New Group Forms to Support Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument
The nonprofit plans to work with the National Park Service to help set up volunteers and programs at the national monument, which Gov. LePage wants to scrap. by Gillian Graham, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A nonprofit organization has been formed to support the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument six months after Read More
Nonprofit Formed to Preserve and Protect Maine’s New National Monument
by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story LEWISTON, Maine – Six months after the creation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, a new nonprofit group has been formed to preserve and protect it. The Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters is a private group with a 13-member board of directors. Secretary Cathy Johnson Read More