Clean air is essential for healthy, happy lives. Clean, renewable energy helps ensure clean air. NRCM works for policies and initiatives that will improve Maine's air quality and reduce global warming pollution throughout the state and region.
NRCM’s climate and clean energy work is focused on where we can have the greatest impact: cleaner cars and trucks, clean and renewable energy production, and greater energy efficiency.
Our work in these key areas is critical to reducing health and environmental problems already plaguing our state. These include high asthma rates, more “bad air days,” rising sea levels due to climate change that threaten coastal communities, and threats to our fall foliage, skiing, and our vital tourism-based industry.
NRCM makes certain that Maine's elected officials and decision-makers are kept up to date about information related to climate change pollution, clean energy technologies, and steps Maine can take to ensure clean air.
Maine People, Businesses, Workers, Town Leaders Rally and Testify to Support Solar Bill
News release Augusta, ME – Hundreds of proponents of solar power gathered at the State House today to call on lawmakers to pass legislation this year to move Maine forward on solar power and prevent rollbacks by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Many will testify at a public hearing this afternoon in favor of An Read More
Opposition to LD 1262, An Act To Protect Monhegan Island by Limiting Wind Turbines
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. NRCM opposes this legislation because it would effectively ban an Read More
Climate Change Marchers in Augusta Call for Politicians, Others to Protect Maine Resources
The gathering was one of many such events held nationwide to draw attention to effects of climate change and presidential policies. by Betty Adams, staff writer Central Maine newspapers news story AUGUSTA — About 1,100 people in brightly colored shirts, carrying a variety of signs and chanting various slogans, paraded slowly from the State House, Read More
Climate March Draws Massive Crowd to Washington in Sweltering Heat
The rally – which attracted tens of thousands – is directed at the Trump administration, which has undone environmental protections. by Chris Mooney, Washington Post writer Portland Press Herald news story WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of demonstrators assembled in Washington in sweltering heat on Saturday for the latest installment of the regular protests that Read More
Backers Tout Bill Opposed by LePage, CMP to Allow More Community Solar Farms
The measure would lift restrictions on current large-scale solar projects, and set new power goals. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A parade of proponents turned out Thursday at a public hearing for a bill that would greatly expand community solar farms in Maine. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. David Read More
Support of LD 1444, An Act Regarding Large-scale Community Solar Procurement
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. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. We support this bill, which includes new innovations and builds on Read More
Opposition to LD 1226, An Act to Keep Maine’s Transportation Infrastructure Safe by Providing More Sources of Revenue for the Highway Fund
Senator Ron Collins, Chair Representative Andrew McLean, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Transportation 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. NRCM strongly opposes this legislation, which would undermine Maine’s ability to reduce our Read More
New Report: Proposed EPA Cuts Put State’s Environment At Risk
by Susan Sharon Maine Public news story A new report from the Natural Resources Council of Maine paints a bleak picture of what could happen in Maine if the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency are adopted. The proposal calls for cutting the agency’s budget 31 percent, slashing 3,200 jobs and eliminating Read More
Portland Councilors Want City to Use 100% Clean Energy by 2040
Portland Press Herald news story Portland city councilors will consider a new goal of powering municipal operations with 100 percent clean energy by 2040. City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau, chairman of the Sustainability and Transportation Committee, is presenting the goal in the form of a council resolution. Thibodeau will formally announce the goal Thursday at a Read More
