Even eternally optimistic people struggle to remain positive sometimes. I know because I am one of them. And as someone who has thought about recycling and waste policy daily for the past decade, my positivity has never had a greater test than in 2020. Most people understand that reducing waste and recycling is an environmentally Read More
Maine Economy
Happy First Anniversary Maine Brewshed Alliance!
Now, more than ever during these troubling times, we should look for opportunities to remind ourselves of our valuable community and of what we can accomplish together. Today, we want to take a moment to recognize the one-year anniversary of an exciting collaboration we launched last year with Maine’s craft brewers. On March 27, 2019, Read More
Support of LD 1832, An Act To Ensure Adequate Funding for the Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and Waste Discharge Licensing Program
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee. My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with more than 25,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in support of LD 1832, Read More
Maine Poised for Big Boost in Clean Energy
Broad Coalition of Businesses, Towns, and Advocates Praise Progress News release Natural Resources Council of Maine | Coastal Enterprises, Inc. | ReVision Energy | Insource Renewables | Borrego Solar | SunRaise Investments | City of Belfast | Waldoboro Energy Committee | Coalition for Community Solar Access | Heliotropic Technologies | Maine Conservation Voters | Maine Read More
Maine Legislature Passes Bill to Reboot Solar Energy
NRCM news release June 17, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – The Maine Legislature today gave initial approval to a bipartisan solar energy bill (LD 1711) that will deliver a comprehensive reboot to Maine’s solar policies and reduce barriers that are preventing more Mainers from accessing clean, affordable solar power. This morning, the Maine Senate voted 32-2 Read More
Bill Would Guarantee Funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund
NRCM news release June 13, 2019 – Land and water conservation projects nationwide would receive a big boost from a bipartisan bill introduced this week to guarantee full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), one of the nation’s most important conservation programs. The bill, HR 3195, introduced in the U.S. House of Read More
NRCM Testimony in Support of LD 1494, An Act to Reform Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard
My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM played an active role in advancing the Maine Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) policy passed in 2007 with strong bipartisan support. And we were one of many diverse parties to work on developing the bill Read More
Bill Would Boost Local Clean Energy Jobs, Reduce Air Pollution, and Advance Energy Independence
Maine Renewable Energy Association | Professional Logging Contractors of Maine | Brookfield Renewable | Longroad Energy | Sierra Club of Maine | Union of Concerned Scientists | Natural Resources Council of Maine | The Nature Conservancy in Maine | Maine Conservation Alliance | ReEnergy | Sargent Corporation News release May 7, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – Read More
Support of LD 1561, An Act To Amend the Maine Land Use Planning Commission Laws and Enhance the Economic Vitality of Neighboring Communities
Good afternoon Senator Dill, Representative Hickman, and members of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. My name is Cathy Johnson. I live in Alna. I am here today on behalf of more than 20,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to speak in support of LD 1561, An Act to Read More