Once a year, NRCM organizes a day for Maine citizens to come together at our office, to learn about policies that affect our land, air, water, and wildlife during in the legislative session, and to go together to the State House so they can speak to their representatives. Today we had the largest turnout ever Read More
energy efficiency
Mainers Will Benefit from New Building Code
Upgrading the energy efficiency of new homes will help the owners and the state. Portland Press Herald editorial For decades new cars have been required to meet fuel efficiency standards. This has been a benefit for the cars’s owners, who spend less on gas than they might have if the standards had not been imposed. Read More
Maine’s Transmission Settlement is a Better Path Toward More Efficiency, Clean Energy, and Reliability
NRCM Statement Today the Maine Public Utilities Commission gave preliminary approval to a settlement agreement regarding Central Maine Power’s (CMP) large transmission reliability proposal (entitled the Maine Power Reliability Project.) The Natural Resources Council of Maine has been an intervener in this case over the last two years. NRCM believes this settlement puts Maine on Read More
Maine Governor Signs First-in-the-nation Law to Require Manufacturers to Recycle Mercury-containing Light Bulbs
New law protects families and the environment; Saves taxpayer money News release AUGUSTA – Today, Governor Baldacci signed a new first-in-the-nation law to help reduce mercury pollution by requiring compact fluorescent light bulb manufacturers to share the costs and responsibility for recycling their mercury-containing bulbs. Similar bills are now pending in MA, VT, and CA. Read More
Maine Adopts First-in-the-nation Law to Recycle Mercurcy-containing Light Bulbs
New law protects families and the environment; saves taxpayer money NRCM news release The Maine House and Senate have voted to support a new, first-in-the-nation, law to help reduce mercury pollution by requiring compact fluorescent light bulb manufacturers to share the costs and responsibility for recycling their mercury-containing bulbs. Governor Baldacci is expected to sign Read More
NRCM Staff Help Keep Mainers Warm
On Friday a few co-workers and I got together and participated in the Keep ME Warm program that Gov. Baldacci has created. I must say the participation in this was a team effort. Beth started the ball rolling. She had previous obligations and wasn’t able to winterize the homes but she pulled together all the materials and Read More
Maine Legislature Passes Law that Sets Energy Efficient Building Standards for New Homes
News release Today, by a vote of 20-15, the Maine Senate approved legislation (already passed by the House 78-58) to establish building standards to reduce fuel consumption in new homes. Maine joins 40 other states with statewide energy efficiency standards for new homes. Maine’s new law has several elements that make it better than just Read More
Maine’s Biggest Air Pollution Victory in 30 Years!
NRCM news release The Board of Environmental Protection on June 21, 2001, voted unanimously in support of a plan to clean up nitrogen oxide NOx air pollution at Wyman Station in Yarmouth – Maine’s largest single source of air pollution. Of particular importance, the plan does not allow Wyman Station’s owner, Florida Power & Light Read More
Chapter 145 Nox Control Program at Wyman Station
Statement by Brownie Carson to the Board of Environmental Protection Good afternoon. The Natural Resources Council has been grappling with the question of how to bring clean air to Maine for a long time. During my 17 years at the Council, we have participated as an intervener in many licensing proceedings, and we have commented Read More
