The measure would lift restrictions on current large-scale solar projects, and set new power goals. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A parade of proponents turned out Thursday at a public hearing for a bill that would greatly expand community solar farms in Maine. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. David Read More
State House Watch
Working for legislation to protect Maine’s environment is an essential part of NRCM’s mission for the people of Maine. During the legislative session, we are at the Maine State House, just a block from our office, to work for new safeguards and also to defend existing legislation that protects Maine’s land, air, water, and wildlife.
Support of LD 1444, An Act Regarding Large-scale Community Solar Procurement
Senator David Woodsome, Chair Representative Seth Berry, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology 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. We support this bill, which includes new innovations and builds on Read More
LD 1350, Amend Law Regarding Recreational Gold Prospecting
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee: My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the staff scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with over 20,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in opposition to LD 1350. Motorized gold dredging Read More
Lawmakers Back Bill to Overhaul Maine’s Mining Regulations
The long-sought compromise, which has the support of several major environmental organizations, would ban open-pit mines and prohibit mining on state-owned public lands and under lakes. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A legislative committee gave near-unanimous support Wednesday to a proposed overhaul of Maine’s mining regulations that has Read More
Mining Bill Clears Major Hurdle, Divides Environmental Activists
By Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story A mining reform bill backed by the Natural Resources Council of Maine received the greenlight from a key committee Wednesday, but the action also opened up a rift among environmental advocates, with some arguing that the state should ban large-scale metal mining outright. The Maine Read More
Open Pits, Water Contamination Banned in New Protections Added to Mining Bill
By Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story A key legislative committee this week could advance a mining bill backed by the Natural Resources Council of Maine that would ban large open pit metal mines and impoundments of mine waste. Members of the state Legislature’s Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee spent three Read More
The Nuisance of “Nips”
by Edgar Allen Beem The Forecaster column When I drove into the drug store parking lot the other day I found myself parked in a litter of little plastic liquor bottles. I mentioned this to an employee who told me they had someone who picked up the empty “nips” once or twice a day, but Read More
Maine’s Heritage is Its Water. Metal Mining Threatens This Valuable Resource.
By Samantha Paradis, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed On a spring day, my dad and I left Frenchville bright and early to travel to Allagash to brook fish. During the drive, I admired the beauty of the St. John River Valley as I waited to reach our favorite brook along the Allagash Read More
Opposition to LD 1126, An Act To Support Tourism on Public Reserved Lands by Leasing Sites to Commercial Sporting Camps
Good afternoon Senator Davis, Representative Dunphy, and members of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. My name is Eliza Donoghue. I am here today on behalf of the 20,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to speak in opposition to LD 1126, An Act To Support Tourism on Public Reserved Read More
