by Andy O’Brien Freepressonline.com news story Not all environmental groups opposed the omnibus energy bill. Support from the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) hinged on increasing funding for the Efficiency Maine Trust and finalizing an agreement for Maine’s continued participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse Read More
climate change
On 3rd Anniversary of Massive Tar Sands Spill: Mainers Rally
Urge Senator Collins to Join King, Michaud, Pingree, and Call for Full Environmental Review of Tar Sands Pipeline NRCM news release Today, on the third anniversary of the nation’s largest and most expensive oil pipeline spill, Mainers rallied at the Portland Water District headquarters, carrying signs and dressed in black to symbolize an oil spill. Read More
Maine Oil Dealers Vow to Fight Tar Sands Measure, as Supporters Rally
by Tom Porter MPBN news story Environmental activists are rallying in Portland this evening to denounce what they describe as “oil industry efforts to pump tar sands oil through the Sebago Lake watershed to Portland harbor for export.” It’s the second time in less than a week that protestors have gathered to oppose the prospect Read More
Federal Court Strikes Down EPA’s Biomass Pollution Loophole
EcoWatch news story On Friday, a key federal court ruling confirmed that Clean Air Act limits on carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution apply to industrial facilities that burn biomass, including tree-burning power plants. The court vacated an exemption that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had carved out for “biogenic carbon dioxide.” The decision, by a Read More
President’s Climate Plan: Good for National Security and Lobsters?
Mary Kuhlman, Public News Service Public News Service news story PORTLAND, Maine – Extreme weather events, including heavy rains and flooding, are just the tip of the iceberg for potential effects of climate change in Maine, experts say. One climate-related concern is national security, according to military leaders, scientists and environmentalists. Judy Berk, Natural Resources Read More
Project Puffin Celebrates 40 Years, Addresses New Dangers
By Aislinn Sarnacki, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story EASTERN EGG ROCK— Wings beating rapidly, an Atlantic puffin flew by, fish spilling from the sides of its orange bill. “He’s circling,” said Dr. Steve Kress, following the puffin with binoculars. “I think he has hake, maybe herring.” The puffin returned, flying low over the Read More
Boreal Forest: Maine Planners Stand to Learn Lessons from Canada’s Subarctic Timberlands
The challenges facing Maine and Canadian forests point up the need for overall land-use planning. by North Cairn, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Maine’s more than 19 million acres of forest face challenges that are showing up in Canadian timberlands, too, including stresses that have decimated several species of migratory songbirds and waterfowl. Read More
Learning about Lobsters
I get to do some pretty cool things thanks to my job at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I met Bonnie Raitt at a concert on the eve of the removal of the Edwards Dam. NRCM was invited to work at a Phish concert (how cool is that?!) in Augusta. I met Senator George Read More
Climate Change Threat to Lobsters Spells Big Trouble for Maine
Lobstering, tourism, conservation interests launch campaign to protect iconic Maine species from carbon pollution threat NRCM and NWF news release Portland, ME — At the Maine Lobster Company, just days before the Fourth of July holiday, a diverse group representing Maine’s lobstering, tourism, conservation, and education interests gathered to launch an awareness campaign about the Read More