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.

Maine PUC Stops Tax on Medium & Large Customers Using Their Own Solar Power
Determines “gross metering” costs ratepayers too much NRCM News Release Today the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a petition from Insource Renewables to suspend so-called “gross metering” for medium and large electricity users, citing excessive costs to all ratepayers to implement the policy. “Gross metering” was adopted by the PUC two years ago to Read More

Gulf of Maine’s 3rd-warmest Year on Record Harms Puffins, Turtles and Kelp
The effects on species that thrive in cold waters provide glimpses of the damage that rising ocean temperatures can do, but the federal and state response remains weak. by Colin Woodard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Gulf of Maine is experiencing its third-warmest year on record, triggering the starvation of puffin chicks Read More

Jackman Joins Resistance against CMP Power Line Project
Residents voted 78-11 to oppose the project at a special town meeting on Wednesday. By Meg Robbins, Staff Writer Central Maine newspapers news story JACKMAN — The town of Jackman has joined a number of towns and organizations throughout the state in opposing Central Maine Power Co.’s proposed transmission line that would bring hydropower from Read More

Jackman Residents Vote to Oppose CMP Transmission Line
Jackman joins Caratunk, West Forks, The Forks, in opposition; Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and the Town of Alna rescinded prior support, too NRCM news release Tonight, at a special town meeting in the MSAD#12 School Gymnasium, Jackman residents voted 78-11, with one abstention, to oppose CMP’s proposal to build a massive 145-mile-long transmission line from the Read More

Maine Should Invest in Measures to Mitigate Looming Damage from Climate Change
Predictable storms, sea-level rise and flooding call for major spending now to prevent economic disruption and the catastrophic loss of property in our state. Portland Press Herald editorial The global challenge of climate change is usually framed as a debate between people who “believe” that human activity is causing the Earth to get warmer and Read More

We Know How to Fight Climate Change, and All of Us Must Play a Part
The harm that warming is doing now will only get worse unless citizens, businesses and governments make mitigating actions part of their daily lives. by Rev. Richard Killmer, retired Presbyterian minister and Yarmouth resident Portland Press Herald op-ed YARMOUTH — “Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, Read More

Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Rescinds Support for CMP Transmission Project
by Fred Bever Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) is rescinding its support for Central Maine Power’s controversial transmission project proposed for western Maine. The 141-mile project would bring electricity from Canada’s hydro-dams to consumers in Massachusetts, and it would require cutting a new corridor through Read More

Plan to Bring Hydropower from Canada to Mass. Faces Mounting Obstacles
By David Abel, Globe Staff Boston Globe news story It seemed like such a simple solution. To the north of New England, there’s a vast network of rivers and dams that generates massive amounts of hydropower, energy that could slake the growing demand for emissions-free electricity in Massachusetts. So the Baker administration sought proposals to Read More

Maine’s Solar Policy is More Costly than Expected. Lawmakers Can Lessen This Cost.
By Vaughan Woodruff, founder of Insource Renewables. He lives with his family in Pittsfield. Bangor Daily News op-ed During the past eight years, solar policy in Maine has been a polarizing topic in Augusta. Entering Gov. Paul LePage’s first term, solar rebates were available for residents and business owners. The state’s net metering policy, which requires Read More