By Susan Sharon Maine Public news story Scientists are speaking out about what they say have been “remarkable improvements” in curbing mercury emissions under Obama-era regulations that are now under threat by the Trump administration. Mercury is a toxic chemical most commonly associated with coal-burning power plants. Because they are downwind from coal-burning states, Maine Read More
air pollution
U.N. Climate Report is Our Pearl Harbor Moment
The politics of division won’t work to fight a threat like global warming. Portland Press Herald editorial The events of the last two years show that Americans know how to choose up sides and fight each other. But if we had to, could we put aside our differences and fight together? We are about to Read More
Rep. Pingree: Congress Must Face the Unassailable Reality of Climate Change
With the help of allies on Capitol Hill, the Trump administration is refusing to stand up for science. by Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, represents Maine’s 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives Portland Press Herald op-ed Maine’s largest city just tied the record for its hottest summer. Warming ocean waters have shifted lobster populations Read More
Trump’s Power Plan a Dud, Taken Seriously or Literally
In a global climate crisis, this is no time to pull back on efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Portland Press Herald editorial The most-quoted analysis of the 2016 election came from The Atlantic’s Salena Zito, who observed that “the press takes (Trump) literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally.” Two Read More
Critics Question Plan for CMP Power Line through Western Maine
by Steve Collins, Staff Writer Sun Journal news story LEWISTON — Whether Central Maine Power should get permission to construct its proposed 145-mile electrical transmission line between Quebec and Lewiston drew sharp comments Wednesday during a session sponsored by the Sierra Club at City Hall. The $950 million project would deliver power generated by Hydro-Québec Read More
Quebec Hydro Project a Bad Deal for Maine
By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Central Maine Power is pushing for a huge transmission line that would cross large areas of Maine’s undeveloped North Woods, including the famous Kennebec Gorge. The line would allow Hydro-Quebec, a government-owned Canadian company, to sell its electricity at a premium in Massachusetts. The Read More
Trump’s Proposed Pollution Rules Will Cause More Americans to Die. The EPA Says So.
Bangor Daily News editorial Last week, we found out that the Trump administration lied when it said that weakening vehicle fuel efficiency standards would save lives. Now, it has come to light that the administration was warned that easing emissions standards for power plants would cause more Americans to die. The administration ignored the warnings Read More
Trump Plan Scales Back Obama’s Coal Emissions Standards
Combined with earlier Trump proposals it could increase the nation’s carbon emissions. by Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday came out with new rules scaling back Obama-era constraints on coal-fired power plants, striking at one of the former administration’s legacy programs to rein in Read More
Trump Administration Pushes to Gut Air Pollution Rules for Nation’s Dirtiest Power Plants: “Bad News for Everyone Who Breathes”
Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The Trump Administration’s proposal to roll back air pollution limits is bad news for everyone who breathes. The proposal is particularly bad news for Mainers, since so much of the air pollution that affects Maine people comes from upwind power plants that would Read More
