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.
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
Opponents File Arguments with State to Scuttle or Reshape CMP Plan for 145-mile Power Line
They cite job losses, idled power plants, increased pollution and canceled solar and wind projects as potential impacts of the transmission line proposed by Central Maine Power’s parent company. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Opponents of a plan to build a 145-mile transmission line through western Maine filed their objections Read More
CMP Transmission Project Expected to Fatten Parent Avangrid’s Bottom Line
The 145-mile high-voltage line still needs approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission, but stock analysts see a boost to the company on the horizon. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The parent company of Central Maine Power stands to earn roughly $60 million a year in net income from building Read More
Unanswered Questions about CMP Bid to Cross Maine to Bring Clean Power from Canada to Massachusetts
Is it a shell game? by Christine Parrish The Free Press news story Questions are being asked as to whether a $950 million electricity transmission line that Central Maine Power proposes to build across a remote part of Maine will reduce greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, as intended. The proposed project is a joint Read More
St. George is Latest Town to Go Solar on Municipal Buildings
Mainebiz news story The town of St. George has flipped the switch on its new solar array, which is expected to supply 90% of power to municipal buildings. The PenBay Pilot reported the 225-panel array is located on the roof of the town’s transfer station. ReVision Energy will own and get the tax credits and Read More
Interior Secretary: Maine Will be “Very Happy” with Report on Oil and Gas Drilling
Secretary Ryan Zinke made the comments during a back-and-forth exchange with U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who pointed out the strong bipartisan opposition to drilling off coastal Maine. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Wednesday that he believes Maine will be “very happy” with a revised proposal Read More
Attempt to Reverse LePage Solar Policy Veto Fails (Again) in Maine
The second attempt to overturn the idiosyncratic governor’s veto of a solar policy fix has again failed by two votes. by Christian Roselund PV magazine news story The Maine Legislature’s attempt to mitigate the dismantling of net metering under Governor LePage (R) died yesterday, with a second attempt to overturn a veto of solar policy Read More
Maine Legislature Fails to Override LePage Solar Veto
A few extremists voted to keep governor’s extreme anti-solar policies Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Sadly, today, by just two votes, the Maine House of Representatives again failed to overturn the governor’s veto of this year’s solar bill. Today, LePage’s extreme legislative allies again resorted to desperate tactics to thwart the will of the people and this Read More
