By Richard Schmidt, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Last week, I was sitting behind Gov. Paul LePage when he testified at the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands hearing featuring the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Our governor’s representation of inland, rural, and northern Maine as nothing more than a clear-cut, mosquito-infested Read More
Support of LD 1504, An Act Regarding Solar Power for Farms and Businesses
Senator David Woodsome, 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). Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. We appreciate the effort by Senator Saviello Read More
Support of LD 1313, An Act to Establish Energy Policy in Maine and in Opposition to LD 1515
Senator David Woodsome, 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). Thank you for allowing us to present this joint testimony on these two closely related bills. NRCM strongly supports Read More
Bill to Add Bottle Deposit to “Nips” Advances
The legislation to charge a refundable 5-cent deposit on miniature liquor bottles is aimed at reducing roadside litter. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill that would impose a 5-cent deposit on the miniature liquor bottles known as “nips” advanced in the Legislature on Tuesday. Touted as a Read More
NRCM Statement on Unanimous Maine Senate Vote for New Protective Mining Law for Maine
Statement of Nick Bennett, Staff Scientist, Natural Resources Council of Maine “NRCM is grateful for today’s unanimous vote in the Maine Senate for a mining bill that will protect Maine’s clean water and taxpayers from the risks of irresponsible mining. “This strong bipartisan bill is the culmination of five years of effort by lawmakers and Read More
Maine Senate Unanimously Votes to Ban Open-pit Mining
By Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story The Maine Senate has passed a bipartisan metal mining bill that would ban open pit mines and wastewater impoundments, although some environmental advocates fear it does not go far enough. LD 820, An Act To Protect Maine’s Clean Water and Taxpayers from Mining Pollution, passed Read More
My Maine This Week: Dyer Long Pond, by Callie Wronker
Slowly Spring “The ice went out on Dyer Long Pond in Jefferson in mid-April, only a couple of weeks ago. I took this photo when the ice had retreated from our side of the lake, and after a cloudy day, we had a gorgeous moment of setting sun lighting the trees which were then reflected in completely Read More
Legislative Committee Holds Hearing on Solar Incentives
by Fred Bever Maine Public news story An overflow crowd turned out for a legislative committee hearing Thursday as supporters and opponents of incentives for solar power development in Maine squared off. Earlier this year state regulators adopted a new version of solar power rules that would gradually reduce existing incentives for the installation of Read More
Support of LD 1373, An Act to Expand and Protect Access to Solar Power in Maine
Senator David Woodsome, 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). Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. We strongly support this bill, which will increase Maine’s energy Read More