By Mal Leary MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Lawmakers are considering several bills that would discourage consumers from using plastic bags provided by retailers. Among the ideas is charging a fee for the bags. Rep. Mick Devin, a Newcastle Democrat, is sponsoring one of the bills, which would impose a five-cent fee per plastic 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.
NRCM Testimony on Three Single-use Plastic Disposable Bag Bills
NRCM Testimony Regarding: An Act To Strengthen Recycling of Single-use Plastic Shopping Bags (LD 325); An Act To Encourage the Use of Alternatives to Single-use Plastic Disposable Bags (LD 396); and An Act To Reduce Waste from Disposable Bags (LD 680) Senator Saviello, Representative Welsh, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Read More
Project to Conserve Maine State House Backdrop in Limbo
Funding already approved for Augusta’s Howard Hill and other projects is in question as Gov. Paul LePage threatens to withhold Land for Maine’s Future bonds. By Michael Shepherd, Staff Writer Kennebec Journal news story AUGUSTA — A project that would preserve the wooded backdrop to the Maine State House has a problem in the Maine Read More
A Done Deal Gets Undone by PUC Efficiency Vote
The governor’s policy agenda is what drove the decision, not a missing word. By The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial Let’s be clear: This is not about a missing word. When the Maine Public Utilities Commission voted 2-1 last week to slash a scheduled increase in the budget for energy-efficiency projects, the commissioners were Read More
Public Land Becomes Epicenter in State Fight
Critics of the governor’s intent to increase timber harvesting and divert its revenues worry about a shift in how forests are managed. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Nestled between Moosehead Lake and Baxter State Park are 44,000 acres of state-owned land where hikers roam Maine’s largest roadless backcountry and fishermen Read More
Lawmakers Should Fix the Missing ‘And’ So Energy Efficiency Work is Not Cut Back
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial At $12 million per letter, a missing “and” in a state law has proven an expensive error now that the state Public Utilities Commission used inadvertently flawed statutory language to cut funding for Maine’s energy efficiency work by $36 million. The PUC earlier this week took Read More
Top House Republican Says He’d Work to Restore $38 Million to Efficiency Maine
Rep. Kenneth Fredette, a leading advocate for a 2013 energy law, agrees that a drafting error likely led to the PUC vote to cut funding and calls criticism of the agency unfair. By Steve Mistler. Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette, R-Newport, said Thursday that he is Read More
GOP Leader Wants Controversial PUC Decision Overturned
By Mal Leary MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine – Lawmakers may act to overturn a controversial Maine Public Utilities Commission decision that would slash programs to help people heat their homes and reduce electricity costs. House Republican Leader Ken Fredette of Newport, while defending the PUC’s conclusion, wants it overturned with legislation, if necessary. In Read More
LePage Bond Threat Puts Land Preservation—and Maine’s Reputation—at Risk
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Gov. Paul LePage has again threatened to withhold bond funding until he gets what he wants. This time, he is holding hostage money for the Land for Maine’s Future program — bonds voters approved in 2010 and 2012 — until he gets approval to cut more Read More
