Senator Lawrence, Representative Zeigler, members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, my name is Jack Shapiro, and I am the Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM has been working for more than 60 years to protect, restore, and conserve Maine’s environment, on behalf of our 30,000 Read More
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Statement on Termination of Northern Maine Transmission Procurement
Today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) terminated the procurement of a transmission line to enable the development of new wind resources in Aroostook County. In response, the Natural Resources Council of Maine issued the following statement from Climate & Clean Energy Director Jack Shapiro: “Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing Maine’s Read More
Strong Support for Maine-based Offshore Wind Port
A unique coalition of organized labor and environmental groups that successfully passed a landmark offshore wind bill earlier this year are now signaling their unequivocal support for the responsible development of an offshore wind port on Maine’s coast. The coalition, including Maine’s largest conservation groups and labor organizations, today released the following statement highlighting Read More
Federal Agency Removes Nearly All of Key Fishing Ground from Wind Energy Development in Gulf of Maine
October 19, 2023 (Augusta, ME) — Fishing groups, labor unions, and environmental organizations who came together to push a compromise bill that will advance responsible offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine scored a key victory when the federal government excluded nearly all of a key fishing ground called Lobster Management Area 1 from offshore Read More
Maine Legislature Approves Plan to Boost Offshore Wind
July 26, 2023 (Augusta, ME) — Earlier this morning at about 3:00 a.m., the Maine Legislature passed a historic bill to encourage 3GW of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine while creating good-paying jobs, protecting wildlife, avoiding key fishing grounds, and supporting new port construction. Below is a statement from the Natural Resources Read More
Historic Offshore Wind Bill Advances in Maine
Legislators, the Mills Administration, organized labor, a key fisheries group, and environmental organizations have agreed on consensus language that will advance a major omnibus offshore wind bill in the Maine Legislature. The bill will responsibly develop offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine and encourage new deepwater port construction while maintaining strong standards to ensure good-paying jobs for Maine workers, protections for wildlife, avoidance of important fishing grounds, broad stakeholder engagement, and inclusive community benefits.
LD 1847, An Act to Modify the Visual Impact Standards for Offshore Wind Port Development
Testimony in Support of LD 1847, An Act to Modify the Visual Impact Standards for Offshore Wind Port Development Senator Brenner, Representative Gramlich, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, my name is Jack Shapiro, and I am the Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM Read More
LD 376, An Act to Repeal the Law Regarding the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program
Testimony in Opposition to LD 376, An Act to Repeal the Law Regarding the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program Senator Lawrence, Representative Zeigler, and members of the Joint Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, my name is Jack Shapiro. I am the Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Read More
Maine PUC Selects Northern Maine Wind and Transmission Projects
UPDATE: On January 31, 2023, the Maine PUC approved the Northern Maine transmission and wind projects. A recent study estimated that new wind projects of this scale will save Maine electricity customers $35 million per year. NRCM’s Climate & Clean Energy Director Jack Shapiro issued the following statement (you can read our original release when Read More
