By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A controversial bill to fix a typo that could be worth roughly $38 million to the Efficiency Maine Trust sailed through the House of Representatives Wednesday on a 138-1 vote. Assistant House Majority Leader Sara Gideon’s bill, LD 1215, which inserts the 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.
Maine House Votes 138-1 to Pass One-word Bill to Correct Typo in Energy Efficiency Law
NRCM news release Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine The House voted 138-1 to pass LD 1215, the one-word bill to correct a typo in the omnibus energy bill passed last session, in order to prevent a major cut to energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses. “This year Read More
LePage’s Intransigence Threatens Key Efficiency Maine Programs
Rather than support a quick fix of a typo, he and Republican House Leader Ken Fredette are trying to use a manufactured crisis to increase the governor’s power. By Mike Tipping Portland Press Herald column Gov. Paul LePage and Republican House Leader Ken Fredette have proved once again that they can’t be trusted. You might remember Read More
Maine Lawmakers Pass Lakes Protection Bill Similar to One LePage Vetoed
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill designed to protect Maine lakes by banning the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus or nitrogen near shorelines is headed to Gov. Paul LePage after near-unanimous support in the House and Senate. LePage vetoed a bill with similar setbacks last year Read More
Groups Petition PUC to Reconsider Decision on Missing “And” in Energy Bill
Maine Public news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Several environmental groups are petitioning state utility regulators to reconsider their ruling on the effect of one missing word – “and” – in the state’s omnibus energy bill. Last month in a case involving the missing word, the Maine Public Utilities Commission ruled 2 to 1 in favor Read More
Maine Lawmakers Reject Bill to Bar Alewives from Upper St. Croix River
Guides and sporting camp owners in the Grand Lake Stream area want to block alewives, for fear that the sea-run fish will harm the important smallmouth bass fishery. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA – A legislative committee voted unanimously Wednesday to reject a bill that would have once again Read More
Environmentalists, Contractors Ask Maine Regulators to Redo Efficiency Cap Ruling
By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PORTLAND, Maine — Two conservation groups and a building contractors association have petitioned the state’s utilities regulators to reconsider a decision to set a cap on state energy efficiency funding at the the lower of two possible levels. The 2-1 decision hinged on the absence Read More
Of LePage Bondage: Governor Holds One Bond Hostage, Proposes Another for State Buildings
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Gov. Paul LePage has opposed many bond proposals during his tenure and is currently holding hostage bonds, already approved by voters, to fund land conservation through the Land for Maine’s Future program. So, the governor’s desire to borrow $112 million to rehab state-owned properties and build Read More
CLF, NRCM, MABEP Petition PUC to Reverse Decision to Cut Energy Efficiency
Chance for PUC to Undo its Plan to Ignore & Subvert Legislative Intent News release Augusta, ME – Today the Conservation Law Foundation, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and the Maine Association of Building Efficiency Professionals filed a motion with the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to “reconsider” its recent Order that would dramatically Read More
