by Fred Bever Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) is rescinding its support for Central Maine Power’s controversial transmission project proposed for western Maine. The 141-mile project would bring electricity from Canada’s hydro-dams to consumers in Massachusetts, and it would require cutting a new corridor through Read More
Maine Environmental News
Maine environmental news often comes quickly and with little warning. Stay up to date on Maine environment news.
From issues such as climate change, healthy waters, Maine forests and wildlife, and sustainability—and environmental policy that could impact them—you’ll find NRCM’s up-to-the-minute news releases to see our perspective on the most pressing issues facing Maine’s land, air, waters, and wildlife. This includes findings relating to our role as Maine’s watchdog of activities of state environmental agencies—we stand ready to blow the whistle when regulations are not enforced.
You can also find our news “round up,” News & Noteworthy, which puts the spotlight on media stories that do a particularly good job capturing current news about Maine's environment. We hope you find this part of our website helpful and informative!
Plan to Bring Hydropower from Canada to Mass. Faces Mounting Obstacles
By David Abel, Globe Staff Boston Globe news story It seemed like such a simple solution. To the north of New England, there’s a vast network of rivers and dams that generates massive amounts of hydropower, energy that could slake the growing demand for emissions-free electricity in Massachusetts. So the Baker administration sought proposals to Read More
Maine’s Solar Policy is More Costly than Expected. Lawmakers Can Lessen This Cost.
By Vaughan Woodruff, founder of Insource Renewables. He lives with his family in Pittsfield. Bangor Daily News op-ed During the past eight years, solar policy in Maine has been a polarizing topic in Augusta. Entering Gov. Paul LePage’s first term, solar rebates were available for residents and business owners. The state’s net metering policy, which requires Read More
MDI Town Latest Maine Municipality to Ban Plastic Shopping Bags
By Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Southwest Harbor is the latest town in Maine to adopt a ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags by local retailers. The Mount Desert Island town held a special town meeting on Tuesday, a week after the statewide midterm elections, to consider whether to Read More
Profits, Not Climate Benefits, are Driving CMP Transmission Proposal
The utility’s transmission line will harm Maine’s environment, economy and way of life – and will do nothing to reduce climate-disrupting pollution. by Dylan Voorhees, climate and clean energy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine Portland Press Herald op-ed AUGUSTA — Climate disruption is the most serious threat to the environment in Maine, Read More
Start Listening, Folks: All-out Effort Needed to Prevent Climate Disaster
Our nation has made dramatic societal transformations in short periods of time when a dire situation, like global warming, has called for it. By Joe Hardy of Wells, a retired environmental educator, consultant and mediator Portland Press Herald op-ed WELLS — The recent report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was stunning in Read More
Waterville Approves Plastic Bag Ban by Fewer than 150 Votes
The City Council had overriden Mayor Nick Isgro’s veto of its vote to let voters decide whether to ban plastic bags, a proposal initiated by the Sustain Mid-Maine Coalition. by Amy Calder, Staff Writer Central Maine Newspapers news story WATERVILLE — Voters on Tuesday approved a proposal to prohibit larger retail and commercial businesses from dispensing Read More
Maine DEP Calls CMP’s Transmission Line Application “Insufficient” and “Incomplete”
CMP’s Habit of Incomplete Filings Raise Serious Questions Statement of Sue Ely, Clean Energy Attorney, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Today, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), notified CMP that its application to build a massive 145-mile-long transmission line through Maine is still incomplete. The DEP said it cannot move forward with evaluating its Read More
PUC Won’t Decide CMP’s $950M Transmission Line Project until March
by Staff Mainebiz news story The three-member Maine Public Utilities Commission issued an order on Friday that extends its review of Central Maine Power’s $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line project into next year. In their procedural order — which follows an Oct. 26 order suspending three hearings originally scheduled to be Read More
