By Catherine B. Johnson, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Gov. Paul LePage threatens to increase logging on Maine’s Public Reserved Lands beyond sustainable levels and divert the revenues to unrelated purposes. But his plans run contrary to the origins, unique characteristics and purpose of these Lands. Maine has about 600,000 acres of 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.
LePage Says He has Ordered Investigation of Land for Maine’s Future
By Christopher Cousins Bangor Daily News news story Gov. Paul LePage made news on several fronts during a nearly hour-long press conference Friday at the Blaine House, which by now you’ve probably read something about. One of the tidbits we know the least about was LePage’s statement that he has called for an investigation into Read More
Legislative Committee Scuttles LePage’s Energy Initiatives
Among the proposals rejected is one that would use money from timber harvesting on state land to help low-income residents with heating costs. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Several initiatives by Gov. Paul LePage, including a proposal to use money from timber harvesting on state land to help Read More
Maine Lawmakers Expected to Vote Thursday on Sweeping Energy Policy Bill
Policy changes proposed by the governor are intended to lower energy costs, but some provisions are opposed by clean-energy advocates and solar panel installers. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — No dramatic changes are likely this year in a state law that compensates homeowners with solar-electric panels for their Read More
LePage Administration’s Timber Harvest Proposal Meets Resistance
Environmental and conservation groups caution that the governor’s plan to fund heating assistance could lead to intensive logging on public lands and create a dangerous budget precedent. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The LePage administration made its case Wednesday for funneling money from logging on state-owned lands into Read More
The True Value of Solar Power
By Ronald B. Davis, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels are polluting the atmosphere and changing the climate in ways that threaten our health, way of life, the environment and the economy. These impacts will worsen for our children and our children’s’ children unless something is Read More
Metallic Mineral Mining Would Mean a Motherlode of Trouble for Maine
Our natural resources are too important to be turned over to J.D. Irving and its subsidiary. by Senator Cathy Breen Portland Press Herald op-ed Lawmakers are one step closer to allowing metallic mineral mining – one of the riskiest, most toxic and financially irresponsible industries in the world – to operate right here in Maine. Read More
Lots of Effort Went Into Writing Maine’s Mining Rules, But They’re Still Too Weak
By Hendrik Gideonse, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed For three months I’ve been part of a tiny handful of citizens watching a drive to approve weakened metallic mining regulations that threaten Maine’s precious environment and that challenge the very character of Maine’s democracy. We have attended a dozen-plus mining hearings and work Read More
Proposed Mining Rules Still Too Weak to Adequately Protect Watersheds, Taxpayers
Legislature must reject the rules again they still don’t address concerns leading to defeat last year. By Rep. Ralph Tucker & Rep. Jeffrey Pierce Kennebec Journal op-ed A mining statute to relax our laws and attract mining to Maine was rushed through the Maine Legislature in 2012. The Legislature last year rejected weak rules to Read More