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 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
Global Expedition Arrives in Portland from the Arctic to Urge Mainers to Take Strong Action on Climate Change
Reporting from the Front Lines of Climate Change, Explorers Underscore Urgent Need for Climate Action News Release Portland, Maine – October 28, 2016 – Today, the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) hosted a group of courageous sailors arriving in Portland Harbor aboard their 50-foot sailboat, the S/V Pachamama, after traversing the Northwest Passage Read More
Maine Voters Find Common Ground on Clean Energy, National Monument
By Lori Valigra, staff writer Mainebiz news story PORTLAND — As Maine voters get ready to head to the polls, a new public opinion survey of likely Maine voters released on Tuesday shows strong, bipartisan support for the new national monument, solar power and other clean energy development, the Land for Maine’s Future Program and Read More
Poll Shows Maine Voters Strongly Support New National Monument, Solar Power, LMF, Maine’s Environment
NRCM news release Portland, Maine – Today, the Natural Resources Council of Maine released the results of a comprehensive public opinion survey on the attitudes of likely Maine voters on a broad range of environmental policy issues. With Mainers heading to the polls in two weeks, the survey documents broad, bipartisan support for protection of Maine’s Read More
Maine Community and Business Leaders Slam PUC for Proposed Solar Rollback
News release Hallowell, ME – Today, at a public hearing by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a large crowd of Maine residents, business owners, community leaders, and others gathered to oppose the agency’s proposal to roll back solar power rules called “net metering.” The hearing addressed the PUC proposal to phase out net metering, Read More
Public Utilities Commission Considering Changes to Solar Power Rules
by Chris Rose, staff writer WCSH news story New rules being considered by the Maine Public Utilities Commission could have a major impact on the future of solar power in the state. The changes would cut financial incentives for homeowners with solar panels. Advocates say without those incentives, people and businesses will be less likely Read More
Battle Over Maine Solar Energy Policies Continues
by Fred Bever, staff writer Maine Public news story Advocates for expanding solar power’s footprint in Maine turned out in force Monday to call on regulators to preserve policies they say have fostered the industry’s growth. They’re also requesting that any changes be left to the next Legislature. Earlier this year, the state’s Public Utilities Read More
