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.

Waterford Passes Resolution Opposing Sending Tar Sands Oil Through Town
NRCM news release Waterford, ME — Waterford residents voted today to pass a municipal resolution stating opposition to sending tar sands oil through ExxonMobil’s Portland-Montreal Pipeline, making it the third Maine town to publicly and officially oppose the proposal. At today’s town meeting more than a half dozen pipeline industry representatives lobbied the townspeople against Read More

NRCM Applauds Pingree and Michaud for Insisting: No Tar Sands in Pipeline without Permit and Review
NRCM news release Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree sent a letter, co-signed by 17 other members of Congress, including Congressman Michael Michaud, asking that the owners of the Portland Pipeline not be allowed to pump tar sands oil from Canada through Maine without applying for a new permit and undergoing environmental review. The letter was addressed Read More

On the Road to Climate Action. Washington, DC, Here We Come!
The sun sets on a great day of climate action What an amazing day! We were just featured on the WCSH-6 TV news at 6:00. We have gotten back to the bus and are headed home. Hopefully the wind and snow have stopped by the time we get home tomorrow morning. Please share your thoughts about the Read More

Mainers Jump on NRCM Bus Down to DC to Join Largest Climate Rally in History!
NRCM Press Release More than 50,000 people are expected to descend on the nation’s capital on Sunday, February 17 for the historic Forward on Climate Rally, including 100s of Mainers traveling by trains, buses, and carpools. Among them, 30 Mainers leave Saturday night on a bus sponsored by the Natural Resources Council of Maine to Read More

Report: Climate Change Already Harming Maine Wildlife
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Ecosystems AUGUSTA, ME — Climate change is already changing the playing field for wildlife and urgent action is needed to preserve America’s conservation legacy, according to a new report released today by the National Wildlife Federation. Wildlife in a Warming World: Confronting the Climate Crisis examines case studies from across Read More

Tar Sands Cause Heated Environmental, Economic Debate in Maine
by Whit Richardson, staff writer Bangor Daily News news story SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Since 1941, oil tankers have been a common sight in Casco Bay. They arrive at Portland Head Light sitting low in the water, heavily laden with crude oil from the Middle East or Africa’s offshore oil rigs and destined for refineries Read More

Portland Tar Sands Rally and March
Press advisory about tar sands rally in Portland Press release Northeast tar sands pipeline maps (4MB) Facts about tar sands oil and its possible effects on Maine’s environment Media stories: Mass. Residents Join Maine Oil Pipeline Protest Boston Globe news story Huge Crowd Turns Out to Denounce Possible Transport of Tar Sands in Region Portland Press Herald news story Portland City Read More

Biggest Rally Ever Against Tar Sands in Northeast Converged in Portland
News Release Portland, Maine – Today, in the largest protest yet in the northeast against tar sands, hundreds of people from across Maine, New England, and from Canada carried signs and marched across Portland to rally at the Maine State Pier. The rally and march were held to oppose an emerging proposal to send dirty Read More

Huge Crowd Turns Out to Denounce Possible Transport of Tar Sands in Region
Foes and backers dispute whether there are plans to transport the substance to Casco Bay. by Beth Quimby and Edward D. Murphy, staff writers Portland Press Herald news story PORTLAND — An estimated 1,400 to 1,500 people marched from Monument Square to the Maine State Pier on Saturday to protest the use of the Portland Read More