Maine people understand the negative impacts of climate change. We live our lives and run our businesses close to the land and the sea. Our springs are rainier; summers are hotter; ticks and associated diseases are spreading; coastal flooding is more prevalent; beaches are eroding, and lobsters are moving north in search of cooler waters. Read More
Governor Janet Mills
Maine Environment Spring 2019 Newsletter
Maine Environment Spring 2019: What’s Inside! In this issue of Maine Environment, we feature an important story by NRCM CEO Lisa Pohlmann about positive steps on climate thanks to Maine Governor Janet Mills. The governor introduced strong climate action bills during this legislative session. There is an update on development proposals in Maine’s North Woods Read More
Legislative Session Delivers Historic Wins for Maine’s Environment
NRCM News Release (Augusta, ME) — The Maine Legislature delivered historic wins this year for clean energy and Maine’s environment. With final bills now signed by Governor Janet Mills, Maine residents can celebrate new laws that will help protect rivers and lakes, reduce plastic pollution, boost renewable energy, curb carbon pollution, assist community planning for Read More
Maine Poised to Accelerate Climate Action and Clean Energy Development
NRCM news release (Pittsfield, ME) – Standing in front of a solar array installed by one of Maine’s largest contractors, Governor Janet Mills today signed into law three major renewable energy and climate action bills aimed at reducing reliance on polluting fossil fuels and creating new jobs by accelerating the development of clean energy. The Read More
New Laws Deliver Landmark Protections for Sustenance Fishing and Clean Rivers
NRCM news release (Augusta, ME) — Maine’s tribes will receive long-sought water quality protections for sustenance fishing under a bill signed into law by Governor Janet Mills today. Along with an upgrade of legal protections for more than 400 miles of rivers and streams that was signed into law on Tuesday, it will represent the Read More
Maine Bans Single-use Plastic Bags
Makes Switch to Reusable Shopping Bags NRCM news release June 17, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – Maine has become the third state in the nation to ban the use of single-use plastic shopping bags statewide. The move comes shortly after the state became the first in the nation to ban polystyrene foam food containers. Today, Governor Read More
Maine Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags
In 2019, with Governor Janet Mills’ signature, Maine became the third state in the nation to ban single-use plastic bags. The plastic bag ban came to fruition shortly after the passage of a neighboring bill that made our state the first in the nation to ban polystyrene foam food containers. The bill was a collaborative Read More
Key Bill to Jump-start Solar Energy in Maine Approved by Committee
Augusta, ME (May 30, 2019) – A bipartisan bill aimed at sparking the development of solar energy in Maine received approval from the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities & Technology Committee (EUT) late last night. LD 1711, sponsored by Senator Dana Dow (R-Lincoln), would stimulate solar energy across the state by breaking down outdated barriers to investment Read More
Landmark Bill Would Protect Sustenance Fishing Rights in Maine’s Tribal Waters
May 29, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – Under a bill proposed by Governor Janet Mills that earned broad-based support during a public hearing today, Maine’s tribes will receive long-sought water quality protections for legal sustenance fishing rights provided to the tribes in the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980. The bill (LD 1775) addresses an Read More