More than 2,000 Maine residents join request News release AUGUSTA, MAINE—Deeply troubled by the solar rule adopted by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last month, large and small businesses, solar companies, workers, conservation and public health groups, and Mainers who want to install solar filed a formal “petition for reconsideration” today. They were joined 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.
Lawmakers to Revisit Maine’s Rules for Mining
Proposals range from easing environmental regulations to enacting a ban on metal mining. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The years-long debate over mining in Maine will return to the State House on Monday when lawmakers consider proposals to either rewrite the state’s environmental regulations or enact a total ban on Read More
Proposed Maine Mining Rules Draw Criticism, Support at Hearing
by Steve Mistler Maine Public news story The issue of metal mining in Maine and how it should be regulated has been debated numerous times in the Legislature, but never settled. Environmentalists and residents of Aroostook County converged on the State House Monday for another go. Lawmakers are reviewing seven different bills. One contains provisional Read More
Bill to Expand Solar Incentives in Maine Ready to Launch
Two frontrunners intend to enhance solar incentives, and could supersede recent changes from the state’s utilities commission. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The near-term future of rooftop solar energy in Maine is likely to be decided this spring, as lawmakers consider changes to a widely criticized rule approved in January Read More
Opposition to LD 395 and LD 160 and in Support of LD 820
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. I reside in Hallowell. I am testifying in opposition to LD 395 and LD 160 and in support of LD 820. Testimony in Opposition Read More
Downsizing Maine’s Bottle Redemption Program Would Be a Recycling Disaster
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Two years ago, Maine lawmakers were asked to scale back the state’s nearly four-decade-old beverage bottle redemption program. Wisely, they chose not to. This year in the Maine Legislature, lawmakers face the same choice. LD 683 proposes to remove containers 46 ounces and larger from the Read More
LePage Plan to Outsource State Park Jobs Questioned
A lawmaker says outsourcing workers because of poor equipment is like eliminating a state trooper whose cruiser is dying. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — LePage administration proposals to outsource two dozen state park jobs and eliminate conservation-related positions received a chilly reception from some lawmakers and advocacy groups Read More
Beverage Industry Backs Bill to Eliminate 5-cent Deposit on Large Bottles
But at a hearing in Augusta, opponents say removing larger containers from Maine’s bottle bill will only place additional financial burdens on municipal recycling programs. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The beverage industry is lobbying to eliminate the 5-cent deposit on larger containers, but critics contend the proposal Read More
Support of LD 469, An Act to Establish a Generally Applicable Regulatory Standard to Address Impacts of Sea Level Change and Increased Storm Surges
My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Climate & Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. We appreciate the effort of the sponsor to bring forward this important bill, and thank the members of this committee, including the co-chairs, who co-sponsored Read More
