By Gail Fanjoy and Larry MacArthur, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed On Feb. 14, Gov. Paul LePage wrote a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to rescind the executive order that created the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Aside from the fact that this letter asks Trump to use his 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!
Here’s How EPA Cuts, Policy Changes Could Affect Maine
By Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story President Donald Trump’s plans to shrink and redirect the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could have a severe impact on Maine where, according to one environmental advocacy official, state environmental programs already have been “cut down to the bone.” The Washington Post reported Wednesday that a Read More
New Rules Expected to Slow Residential Solar Power Growth, Advocates Say
By Lauren Abbate, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Solar power advocates are concerned that new rules approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission last month, and finalized in an order Wednesday, will slow residential solar power growth in Maine. The rules reduce the credits homeowners receive under state’s net-metering policy for the excess Read More
Environmental Groups to Make Hard Push to Reverse Maine’s New Solar Rules
They say the PUC’s ‘extreme’ changes, which are opposed by the governor for different reasons, will stifle industry investment and were improperly adopted. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Maine’s largest environmental organization pledged Wednesday to “pursue every opportunity” to reverse controversial solar energy rules adopted by the state Read More
PUC Finalizes Extreme Anti-solar Rules
NRCM Prepared to Fight to Overturn Them in the Legislature Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Climate and Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC’s) new net metering rules include some of the most extreme anti-solar elements in the nation. They would roll back solar net metering, destroying good Maine Read More
Nonprofit Formed to Preserve and Protect Maine’s New National Monument
by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story LEWISTON, Maine – Six months after the creation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, a new nonprofit group has been formed to preserve and protect it. The Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters is a private group with a 13-member board of directors. Secretary Cathy Johnson Read More
How Would LePage’s Plan to Outsource Park Jobs Affect Visitors?
Conservation advocates believe replacing the current staff would hurt the visitor experience, but the state says the change comes with benefits. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Conservation advocates are raising concerns about Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to outsource two dozen jobs at Maine’s state parks and to eliminate Read More
Bill to Apply 15-cent Deposit to Mini Liquor Bottles Advances
Supporters say the number of ‘nips’ showing up in roadside ditches or tossed on front lawns is increasing with the popularity of the 50-milliliter bottles. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Miniature liquor bottles would be subject to Maine’s 15-cent bottle deposit next year under a bill endorsed by Read More
UNH, UMaine Climate Scientists: Trump Era Brings Challenges
By Deborah McDermott Seacoast Online news story This is a troubling time to be a climate scientist, say professors from the University of New Hampshire and the University of Maine. It is a time of unease and uncertainty, they say, as the Trump administration signals research, data collection and scientific inquiry could be under attack. Read More