Good morning Senators Breen and Dill, Representatives Gattine and Hickman, and members of both the Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committees. My name is Cathy Johnson. I live in Alna. I am here today on behalf of the 20,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to Read More
Maine Legislature
The Natural Resources Council of Maine reviews every bill being considered by the Maine Legislature to determine which ones deserve support and which ones should be opposed based on their potential impact on Maine’s environment. Read more about the bills we are following and taking action on.
Support of LD 640, Resolve, To Require a Study of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions from Proposed CMP Transmission Corridor
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and distinguished members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the Staff Scientist at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with more than 20,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in strong support of LD Read More
Opposition to LD 334, An Act to Change the Definition of “Renewable Capacity Resource”
My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. NRCM supports the use of our Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to spur investment in renewable resources that help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, improve our Read More
Climate Bills Call for Maine to Reduce Emissions to 80% Below 1990 Levels
Seven hours of testimony provide a glimpse into the scope and impact of proposals to rein in greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, factories and motor vehicles. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Maine scientists, fishermen and environmentalists urged lawmakers Wednesday to embrace a goal of reducing greenhouse gas Read More
Opposition to LD 754, An Act to Ensure the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Continues to Promote Energy Efficiency and Benefit Maine Ratepayers
Senator Mark Lawrence, Chair Representative Seth Berry, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM opposes this bill, which—despite its title—would limit the extent to which funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Read More
Support of LD 568, An Act To Change the Composition of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission
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 the 20,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to speak in support of LD 568, An Act to the Read More
Support of LD 543, An Act To Protect Public Health through Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Inspections
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources 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 20,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in support of LD 543. This Read More
Coalition Calls for State to Borrow $95 Million to Get Conservation “Back on Track”
Legislative approval and a referendum would be needed to borrow the money, which would be allocated under the Land for Maine’s Future program. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Conservation and outdoor recreation groups are recommending that Maine borrow $95 million to dramatically increase land protection efforts and tackle a Read More
Maine Lawmakers Should Pass Plastic Bag Ban
A product so cheap it can be thrown away is creating expensive problems. Portland Press Herald editorial Most people laughed in 1954 when the editor of a trade journal called Modern Plastics told an industry conference that the future of their business “is in the trash can.” But they weren’t laughing nine years later, when Read More
