On New Year’s Eve, people chose to ring in 2014 in a special way: jumping into the 40-degree waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s annual Dip and Dash attracted more than 150 people who ran a 5K along Back Cove and jumped into the frigid waters of the Atlantic off the East End Beach on Tuesday. NRCM Executive Director Lisa Pohlmann said the event raised about $15,000 for the organization through signups and sponsorships.
“It’s a great collection of some very wonderful people,” Pohlmann said.
The Dip and Dash is a great way for people to have fun, Pohlmann said, and a chance to mark the accomplishments of the organization. Pohlmann said the NRCM made a lot of progress in 2013 by ushering in the passage of new energy efficiency legislation, welcoming the president’s energy policies and other work to limit tar sands being transported through Maine.
Looking forward to 2014, Pohlmann said the NRCM will once again have a lot on its plate. She said the group is going to make a push for expanding and incentivizing the use of solar energy in Maine, work to see the South Portland tar sands moratorium become more permanent and continue to look at the impact of the president’s energy policies, especially related to coal burning plants.
