June 30, 2025 (Augusta, ME) — Maine’s leading nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to protecting the environment, the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), today called on Senator Susan Collins to vote against a massive bill that seeks to kill the growing domestic clean energy industry and underfund America’s public lands—programs that are of great Read More
Federal Issues
Our advocates, members, supporters, and partners work to defend our hard-earned environmental safeguards and to ensure Maine’s elected officials in Washington, DC, stand up for Maine’s environment. Decisions made there have lasting effects on Maine’s clean water, fresh air, healthy forests, thriving wildlife, and on the health of Maine people, our economy, and our way of life.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine identifies and addresses the issues at play in our nation’s capital that have the largest impacts here at home.
Find out the latest on federal issues affecting our state's land, air, water, and wildlife.
Update: Pressure Rises in Maine to Oppose Cutbacks in Reconciliation Bill
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote soon on the reconciliation budget bill that would increase the national debt by trillions and give billionaires tax breaks while increasing costs for working families. Pressure is ramping up on Senator Susan Collins to oppose the most drastic environmental rollbacks in the bill and join her Republican colleagues Read More
Here’s How the Reconciliation Bill is Harmful to Maine
You may have heard some rumblings in the news about a “Big, Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1) that is making its way through Congress right now, but it’s actually pretty ugly. The proposals being led by Congressional Republicans aim to make billionaires richer by slashing programs that serve working people, all while increasing the national debt Read More
Mainers Would Face Higher Costs, Job Creation Would Slow Under US House Energy Plan
May 13, 2025 (Augusta, ME) – Homeowners and businesses in Maine would miss out on valuable cost-savings and jobs in one of the state’s fastest growing sectors would slow under the U.S. House of Representative’s energy budget proposals released over the past few days. The plans are part of a reconciliation package being debated by Read More
Assessing the Trump Administration’s First 100 Days
It’s not right to pull funding out from under the feet of hard-working farmers and foresters. It’s not right to endanger public safety and undermine the success of our fishing families by cutting staff and research at NOAA. It’s not right to fire hundreds of scientists who are using the best research available to assess Read More
Proposal to Open Up Maine’s Ocean Waters to Oil and Gas Drilling Defies Explanation
April 30, 2025 (Augusta, ME) – The Trump Administration has announced a program that could allow offshore oil and gas drilling off the coast of Maine, prompting opposition from one of the state’s leading environmental groups. In an April 29 announcement, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it will open up public comment on Read More
Federal Clean Energy Rollbacks Could Raise Maine Electricity Costs
Here’s how the Trump Administration’s attacks on American-made clean energy will make electricity in Maine more expensive and less reliable: There are a lot of actions on energy and the environment being taken by the Trump Administration these days, many of which will have real consequences for Maine people, local businesses, and our communities. Here, Read More
ISO-NE CEO Reiterates Offshore Wind Essential for Future Grid Reliability
March 25, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — In prepared remarks to be delivered to Congress today, the head of the Independent System Operator of New England, (ISO-NE), the independent group responsible for managing the region’s electric grid and wholesale energy markets, reiterates the importance of developing offshore wind projects for future grid reliability. The appearance by Read More
Mainers Speak Out Against Chaotic Federal Funding and Firing Decisions
News release March 19, 2025 (Brewer, ME) ━ One by one, a diverse group of Mainers including a fired federal worker, business and fishing groups, a veteran, and a SNAP participant spoke about the real-world harm that has been inflicted by the chaotic decision-making of the Trump Administration. Ocean Crawford, a mother of three from Read More
