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 Lobstermen Know the Threat Posed by Climate Change. Now is the Time to Act.
By Richard Nelson, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed I rose the other morning and began my preparations to head out on the water from Friendship Harbor to take up the my last load of lobster traps. My thoughts turned from from closing out my season to chuckling over my selection of boots Read More

Trump Should Fill His Open Mind with Climate Change Facts
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial President-elect Donald Trump has an open mind about climate change, he said in an interview on Sunday. With that open mind, he’ll want to turn his attention to a new study that warns that the Earth may be warming much faster than scientists previously believed. In Read More

NRCM Calls on Collins, King to Reject Trump EPA Nomination of Scott Pruitt
Statement of Lisa Pohlmann, executive director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Scott Pruitt, President-Elect Trump’s selection to lead the EPA, is an anti-science, anti-environment ideologue. Over the last decade, he has sued the EPA to challenge nearly every major environmental protection, from the landmark Clean Power Plan to rules that protect clean water to standards Read More

Trump Suddenly has an ‘Open Mind’ on Climate Change. We Hope He Means it.
By Harold W. Borns Jr. and Sharon S. Tisher, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed President-elect Donald Trump has denounced “climate change (global warming) bulls—-,” promised to dismantle the U.S. Climate Action Plan and Clean Power Plan and “ cancel” the Paris climate agreement. Now he claims an “open mind” when it comes Read More

Environmental Group Seeks Private Donations to Help South Portland Fight Pipeline Lawsuit
By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The group posts a video requesting donations as the city’s legal costs head toward $1 million in the ‘Clear Skies’ ordinance case. SOUTH PORTLAND — A local environmental group has ramped up efforts to help the city defend its so-called Clear Skies ordinance in federal Read More

Despite Political Shifts, Solar Decision Expected by Year’s End in Maine
A proposal to limit incentives for homeowners is likely strengthened in wake of state and federal election results. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Clean-energy advocates in Maine are seeking a path forward to save a controversial financial incentive for rooftop solar panels, following an election that might make it harder Read More

Maine Should Be Thankful For its Legacy of Environmental Stewardship
By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News Op-Ed I’m proud and thankful to be in Maine, where many of our leaders are environmental champions, where citizens care deeply and make their voices heard in policy decisions and where the beauty that surrounds us is a daily reminder of why protecting and restoring Read More

Climate Change Conference at UNE Features Senator Angus King
News release BIDDEFORD, Maine — On November 18, 2016, the University of New England (UNE) hosted a climate change solutions conference featuring Senator Angus King as the keynote speaker. The conference, “Climate Change Solutions: Maine Leadership from Policy to Education,” was co-sponsored by UNE, Natural Resources Council of Maine and Citizens’ Climate Lobby. UNE President Danielle Read More

Portland Becomes First City in Maine to Require Reporting on Large Buildings’ Energy Use
The council votes 6-3 to pass the ‘benchmarking’ measure, designed to collect baseline data that would be used to gauge trends and the effectiveness of efficiency upgrades. by Randy Billings, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Portland City Council voted 6-3 to become the first community in Maine to require large businesses and Read More