Senator Brownie Carson, Chair Representative Ralph Tucker, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources My name is Lisa Pohlmann, CEO of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. NRCM strongly supports LD 1679 because it is the right vehicle to jump-start Maine’s efforts to tackle climate change in ways that will benefit Maine people, Read More
The Perfect Spring Ski on the Penobscot River Trails
The Penobscot River Trails provided a new and alluring destination for an April 12 cross-country ski, right before spring break. I drove north on I-95, passing miles of mostly bare ground and wondered if there would be enough snow outside of Medway to make this long drive worth it. About 12 miles north on Route Read More
A Welcome Change for Maine’s Climate
There were many reasons to celebrate the inauguration of Governor Janet Mills on Wednesday evening, January 2. The fact that she is the first woman to hold the post is already an important part of Maine’s story and history. For anyone who cares deeply about protecting Maine’s environment, Governor Mills’ speech has further reason to Read More
An Afternoon to Honor Nathaniel Reed
Nathaniel Reed was a nationally known environmental champion who helped turn the Endangered Species Act into law and shepherded many other environmental laws while serving as an assistant secretary of the Department of Interior in the 1970s. He lived in and loved Florida, but also had a summer home in Winter Harbor and loved Maine Read More
The Big Picture: Let’s Get Going Again
The elections are now behind us and it’s time to get going again. The Natural Resources Council of Maine is committed to working with the new Mills Administration and all new (and former) legislators to move forward. We are excited to start making serious progress protecting our environment. We have spent too much time in Read More
Bright Spots
Good environmental news at the federal level has been scarce, but it does happen occasionally. The resignation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt is welcomed news. The crushing weight of Pruitt’s ethics scandals aside, Pruitt’s close ties with polluting industries and his failure to support existing laws like the Clean Air Act Read More
Trump Budget Cuts EPA By 34%; Would Cause Major Harm to Maine’s Clean Air and Water
Statement of Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine President Trump today released an irresponsible Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget, which would threaten the health of Maine people, our environment, and our economy. Trump’s 2019 budget proposes a massive 34% cut in the EPA budget, even deeper than last year’s slash and burn proposal, Read More
Trump Plan Would Open Maine Waters to Oil Drilling
Five-Year Offshore Plan could devastate Maine’s coastlines, fisheries and coastal communities Statement of Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Trump Administration today released a dangerous five-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic Ocean—including off the coast of Maine, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Arctic Ocean. This Read More
Final Tax Bill Includes Damaging Provision to Drill for Oil in the Arctic
Statement of Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “We are deeply disappointed in Senator Susan Collins’ vote for the final tax bill, which overturns decades of protection from oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This vote betrays the will of the majority of Mainers, and reverses Senator Collins’ Read More
