http://www.nrcm.org/rss.asp Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) bdimond@nrcm.orgTue, 09 Feb 2010 09:22:29 EDTFuzzyRSS 1.0.1 http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3485Maine could soon become the first state to require drug manufacturers to establish a system for collecting unused medications from consumers to keep the drugs from getting into the environment or falling into the wrong hands.The idea was endorsed by a legislative committee last month and could reach the full Legislature as soon as this week. If approved, it would strengthen Maine's position as a n...bdimond@nrcm.orgMon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3486PORTLAND — Eco-friendliness was a dominant theme of the 20th annual Maine Home, Remodeling and Garden show over the weekend.Exhibitors showed off products ranging from foam insulation to front-loading washers to wind generators to energy-efficient windows.David Morrill was gathering information for a new home in Gorham. A super-insulated house and solar system whose excess daylight power can...bdimond@nrcm.orgMon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3483Representatives from an environmental advocacy group and a company that distributes plastic pallets containing a toxic flame retardant told lawmakers Thursday they were close to reaching a compromise to phase out new pallet production "as soon as practicable."A bill introduced by House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, called for the end of the manufacture and sale of the ch...bdimond@nrcm.orgFri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3484DIXFIELD — The Dirigo High School community room was packed with more than 100 people to hear panelists and experts debate the pros and cons of wind power Thursday night. Dylan Voorhees of the Natural Resources Council of Maine backed the development of clean energy, such as wind power, and the gradual reduction of the use of fossil fuels. "Wind power is a broad solution to dealing ...bdimond@nrcm.orgFri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3480AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci will be among 11 governors meeting with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House today to discuss a broad range of energy issues.Baldacci spokesman David Farmer said most of the administration’s top officials dealing with energy issues — including at least three Cabinet secretaries and key advisers — are expe...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3481CARROLL PLANTATION, Maine — First Wind of Massachusetts is collecting data on Bowers Mountain wind conditions as a first step toward possibly erecting an industrial wind-to-energy site near the 1,127-foot summit, company officials said Tuesday.The state’s largest industrial wind power producer placed three test towers on the site, two in November and one in December. Company officials ...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3482The president announced three measures aimed at boosting production of biofuels and reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The details were later presented to reporters via a telephone conference by several Obama cabinet members, including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "I think we are sending a very positive, very specfic, very direct message that the Obama-Biden adminstration i...bdimond@nrcm.orgWed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3479BATH — An entourage of government, higher education and technology leaders visited three area high schools Monday to encourage students to consider careers in Maine’s composites manufacturing and offshore wind power industries.Habib Dagher, a University of Maine professor specializing in composites research, joined U.S. Small Business Administration director Karen Mills, Southern Maine...bdimond@nrcm.orgTue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3475YARMOUTH, Maine — Herbie, the giant American elm tree, is giving its trunk over to science.Since the tree was felled two weeks ago, scientists from Columbia University, the University of Maine and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have contacted the Maine Forest Service about examining Herbie’s trunk to see what can be learned about the tree’s age and about the ...bdimond@nrcm.orgTue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3476The near-universal enthusiasm for wind power seen in the early days of the industry here in Maine has waned, in large part because of the complaints from those living near towers and turbines, which dominate the landscape and can produce annoying noise. As people hear about those complaints, sympathy for wind farm neighbors grows, as does wariness about the technology. While people may still suppo...bdimond@nrcm.orgTue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT