Augusta – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has indicated his intent to deem America’s cleaner car standards “inappropriate,” reversing the agency’s previous determination that they should continue as planned. The standards require increasingly less-polluting cars for model years 2022-2025 and were adopted with support of automakers and after intensive analysis. “With this cleaner Read More
Cleaner Transportation
Cars and trucks are the primary culprits for air pollution in Maine, and we know that we must electrify our on-road vehicles in order to meet our climate goals. By driving electric vehicles in Maine, people are reducing air pollution that harms our environment, our health, and our economy. Learn ways Maine is using cleaner transportation to reduce climate-changing pollution.
Southern Maine Bus Services Consider Cleaning Up Their Act with Electric Vehicles
‘The future of public transit is electric,’ says the head of ShuttleBus-Zoom, which may join Greater Portland Metro and apply for grant money to replace diesel buses with electric ones. by Penelope Overton, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Greater Portland Metro and ShuttleBus-Zoom may come together to bring the first electric-powered buses to Read More
Lawmakers Oppose New Fees on Maine Hybrid and Electric Cars
Democrats on the transportation committee reject a LePage administration proposal to make electric and hybrid vehicles more expensive to own in Maine. By Peter McGuire, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Democratic lawmakers rejected a proposal from Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to make owning hybrid and electric cars more expensive in a committee-level vote Read More
Low Gas Tax, Not EVs, Causing Shortfall in Highway Fund
If today’s drivers contributed as much as their grandparents, there would be no problem. Portland Press Herald editorial Maine has a free-rider problem when it comes to infrastructure, but it’s not the one they are talking about in Augusta. Gov. LePage and his allies in the Legislature want to charge an annual fee to the Read More
2018 Legislative Priorities for Maine’s Environment
The 2018 legislative session is well underway. This is the “short session” of the Legislature, which means the pace is fast as lawmakers attempt to adjourn by the end of April. It is also an election year for every House and Senate seat, and it is Governor Paul LePage’s final year in office, adding an Read More
Opposition to LD 1806, An Act to Ensure Equity in the Funding of Maine’s Transportation Infrastructure by Imposing an Annual Fee on Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Senator Collins, Representative McLean, and members of the 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. The bill would impose an arbitrary and punitive Read More
LePage-backed Bill would Slap Extra Annual Fee on Electric, Hybrid Cars
The transportation department says owners don’t pay enough gas taxes to the highway maintenance fund, but environmental groups and drivers say the state should find another way to fill the gap. by Peter McGuide, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The LePage administration is proposing to make it more expensive to own a hybrid Read More
Incentives for Electric Vehicles Provide Alternative to Oil Dependence
By Sean Mahoney, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed As climate change continues to worsen, the price tag from natural disasters and other associated impacts keeps rising. This is a scientific and economic certainty, as recently highlighted by the GAO report issued at the request of Sen. Susan Collins. Unfortunately, the United States’ Read More
Electric-car Drivers, You Can Charge It at L.L. Bean in the Near Future
The retailer in Freeport will soon open Maine’s largest plug-in station to show leadership and promote sustainable practices, and other businesses may take notice. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story FREEPORT — L.L. Bean is completing construction at its flagship retail store on what will be Maine’s largest charging station for Read More
