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 Business Owners Throw Their Support Behind New Federal Carbon Pollution Limits
by Seth Koenig, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — Damariscotta River oyster farmer Bill Mook said on May 9 of last year, the average daily amount of carbon dioxide in the planet’s atmosphere crossed the 400-parts-per-million threshold. The last time humans encountered carbon dioxide levels that high, they were just evolving Read More
Report: Oil Industry Plans to Pump Refined Tar Sands to Maine
Disregarding Public Opposition, Threatening Progress on Climate Change News Release Portland, Maine—Unless we act to stop it, Maine motorists may soon be filling their tanks with gasoline derived from Canadian tar sands, according to a new report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The oil industry plans to start pumping refined tar sands gasoline Read More
Maine Bill Aims to Boost Solar Power Development
by Patty B. Wight MPBN radio news story The heat of the sun may seem far away on this bitterly cold day. But it was the focus of debate in the Legislature’s Energy and Utilities Committee. A new bill aims to make solar power more affordable and accessible for Mainers. But opponents question the push Read More
Support of LD 1652, An Act to Support Solar Energy Development in Maine
My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. I will begin by stating that, for NRCM, passage of a solid solar power bill is a top priority for the energy committee this session. We believe Read More
Maine Should Lead Washington on Climate Policy
by Peter Mills and Sharon S. Tisher Bangor Daily News op-ed It is fortunate for all 7 billion people on Earth that humans are finally learning new ways to produce and use energy. Examples are legion: hybrid cars, LED light bulbs, more economical wind, solar and hydropower, super-insulated buildings and fiber-optic communications to reduce physical Read More
Clam Diggers Can’t Weather Climate Change
Invasive green grabs are eating shellfish on which a $55 million industry depends. by Sara Randall Maine Sunday Telegram editorial FREEPORT — Clam diggers rely on a healthy marine environment in order to provide nourishing whole food to citizens and contribute to the economy. However, the ability of Maine’s diggers to continue their livelihood is Read More
How to Prepare for Maine’s Next Big, Windy Industry
Bangor Daily News editorial One day, there will be an offshore wind energy industry in the United States. Maine can either prepare for it now — by fostering a stable environment for related business, technology and education growth — or lose later. New industries with potential to create thousands of jobs do not come to Read More
Groups Join Coalition Calling for Bold Action to Advance Offshore Wind in Atlantic
NRCM press release With critical federal tax incentives set to expire on December 31, twelve Maine organizations joined more than 230 other organizations and elected officials Wednesday to urge the Obama Administration to take swift, bold action to facilitate the development of offshore wind power. Their letter to the President is available here. A 12-megawatt (MW) offshore Read More
Feds Tell Portland Pipe Line Corp. that Any Future Plans to Carry Tar Sands Must be Reviewed
by Whit Richardson, staff writer Bangor Daily News news story SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — In what opponents are characterizing as a reversal of an earlier decision, the U.S. Department of State in August informed the Portland Pipe Line Corp. that it wants to review any future plans the company may propose to reverse the flow Read More
