This summer, I’ve been interning with the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s (NRCM) advocacy department. I’ve been working mostly with the climate and clean energy team, my work has consisted of building statewide support for offshore wind development, learning about the expansion of electric vehicle chargers throughout the state, and town opinions on community solar Read More
climate change
Great Reads by NRCM Members: New & Newly Discovered Books
Looking for some fantastic books to add to your summer reading list? NRCM members can help! Featured here are books published by our members covering a range of genres, from essays to art, mysteries, children’s literature, hiking guides, and more. If you’re an author of a book about Maine or related to environmental issues, you Read More
Why EV Batteries are Good for the Grid, Not Just Your Wallet
When drivers purchase an electric car or truck they may not realize that they’re also getting a potent energy storage device out of the deal as well. Electric vehicle (EV) batteries won’t just help get us around, they are a potentially powerful and promising tool for building a more resilient and affordable clean energy grid Read More
The Economic Promise of Offshore Wind in Maine
Offshore wind holds great promise for Maine. Floating offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine is expected to generate about half of the electricity Maine needs by 2040 by providing a reliable source of renewable energy. This will bring a once-in-a-century opportunity to create good-paying jobs for Maine workers now and into the future. And Read More
New Report: Benefits of Maine’s Solar Growth Outweigh Costs
A new report commissioned by Maine’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) provides clear evidence for policymakers that the benefits of solar growth outweigh the costs. The PUC’s report, entitled “Status and Cost & Benefit Analysis of Maine’s 2023 Solar Market,” is the first comprehensive assessment of the costs and benefits of solar projects under the Net Read More
Maine’s Clean Transportation Future
Our vision for Maine’s transportation future is one in which Mainers can get where they need to go with a variety of clean, affordable, and safe options. In this future, cars and trucks no longer run on fossil fuels, saving drivers money and giving us cleaner, healthier air. Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are everywhere Read More
News & Noteworthy—January – March 2024
Each month, we highlight news stories and opinion pieces related to NRCM’s work to protect Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife. March 2024 NRCM Sustainable Maine Program Manager Vanessa Berry was featured in an NPR story about Maine’s first-in-the-nation Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging law and other states trying to pass similar legislation. L.L. Bean’s Read More
Board of Environmental Protection Strikes Down Life-saving Cleaner Cars Rule
Maine will not join 13 other states in adopting pollution reduction program; state at risk of not meeting climate goals Augusta – Today, after more than a year of rulemaking and public engagement, Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) voted not to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) rule, leaving billions in health and Read More
Opposition to LD 2261, Designating New Motor Vehicle Emissions Rules as Major Substantive Rule
Senator Brenner, Representative Gramlich, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, my name is Jack Shapiro, and I am the Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM has been working for more than 60 years to protect, restore, and conserve Maine’s environment, and I’m here today Read More
