Clean air is essential for healthy, happy lives. Clean, renewable energy helps ensure clean air. NRCM works for policies and initiatives that will improve Maine's air quality and reduce global warming pollution throughout the state and region.
NRCM’s climate and clean energy work is focused on where we can have the greatest impact: cleaner cars and trucks, clean and renewable energy production, and greater energy efficiency.
Our work in these key areas is critical to reducing health and environmental problems already plaguing our state. These include high asthma rates, more “bad air days,” rising sea levels due to climate change that threaten coastal communities, and threats to our fall foliage, skiing, and our vital tourism-based industry.
NRCM makes certain that Maine's elected officials and decision-makers are kept up to date about information related to climate change pollution, clean energy technologies, and steps Maine can take to ensure clean air.
NRCM Files Suit Challenging U.S. EPA Air Toxics Rule
NRCM news release Washington, D.C. – Today the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) filed suit in the federal Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to remove power plants from the list of industrial pollution sources requiring strict controls for mercury and other toxic air pollutant emissions. “Merely declaring that Read More
Support of LD 1379, An Act to Amend the Maine Wind Energy Act
by Jon Hinck, NRCM toxics project director Thank you for the opportunity to present comments in favor of LD 1379 on behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (Council). I am Jon Hinck and work on wind siting and policy issues for the Council. I live in Portland. The Council is a public interest, Read More
NRCM Urges Senator Collins to Investigate Fraudulent Mercury Rule
In response to Tuesday’s Washington Post report that the Environmental Protection Agency decided to ignore Harvard University researchers’ analysis of health benefits from reducing mercury pollution from power plants, the Clean Air Task Force, National Wildlife Federation and Natural Resources Council of Maine, are renewing their request that Senator Susan Collins, as Chair of the Read More
NRCM Sues EPA Over Mercury Pollution
NRCM news release WASHINGTON D.C. — On April 28, state and national conservation groups sued the federal government to force the Environmental Protection Agency to require maximum achievable reductions in mercury and other toxic air pollutants emitted by coal and oil-fired power plants, as required by the Clean Air Act. The lawsuit against EPA was Read More
NRCM Comments on EPA’s Proposed Rulemaking on National Standards for Reduction of Mercury Emissions from Power Plants
My name is Brownie Carson. I testify here today on behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, a citizen supported environmental advocacy organization with 8000 members and supporters. Thank you to Congressman Tom Allen for giving us all the opportunity to express our views on the critical environmental issue of proposed national standards for Read More
Down East Region Spared 84-Mile Transmission Line
NRCM news release Emera, the parent company of Bangor Hydro, has decided not to move forward at this time with a proposed 170-foot wide, 84-mile transmission line that would have bisected Hancock and Washington Counties, running between Orrington, north of Bangor, and Baileyville, on the New Brunswick border. This massive new transmission line was strongly Read More
Maine’s Biggest Air Pollution Victory in 30 Years!
NRCM news release The Board of Environmental Protection on June 21, 2001, voted unanimously in support of a plan to clean up nitrogen oxide NOx air pollution at Wyman Station in Yarmouth – Maine’s largest single source of air pollution. Of particular importance, the plan does not allow Wyman Station’s owner, Florida Power & Light Read More
Chapter 145 Nox Control Program at Wyman Station
Statement by Brownie Carson to the Board of Environmental Protection Good afternoon. The Natural Resources Council has been grappling with the question of how to bring clean air to Maine for a long time. During my 17 years at the Council, we have participated as an intervener in many licensing proceedings, and we have commented Read More
Comment to the Board of Environmental Protection on Chapter 145 NOx Control Program
Comments by Sue Jones, Energy Project Director The Natural Resources Council of Maine appreciates DEP’s significant efforts in reviewing the comments submitted in the Chapter 145 rulemaking and in developing a proposal for your consideration today. With all due respect, however, the NRCM believes that DEP has not presented the best plan for the people Read More
