A couple years ago my husband and I moved into a home that, like 60% of houses here in Maine, burns oil for heat. When we were ready to switch to an alternative heating system, we knew we would be looking for options that helped move us away from fossil fuels, weren’t going to break Read More
Efficiency Maine
Lower Energy Costs, More Jobs Delivered by Efficiency Maine Trust’s New Triennial Plan
NRCM News Release May 17, 2022 (Augusta, ME) – Maine homeowners and businesses will have expanded access to heat pumps, weatherization, and other programs that have been proven to save energy costs and reduce air pollution in a new $300 million, three-year strategic plan for the Efficiency Maine Trust approved by utility regulators today. The Read More
Why the Maine Climate Council is Key to Bold Climate Action
States are laboratories for policy innovation, and nowhere is that happening more in Maine than on clean energy and climate action. In 2019, Governor Janet Mills and bipartisan majorities of the Legislature passed new laws aimed at improving public health and strengthening the economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Read More
In Support of LD 1894, An Act to Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses
Senator Millett, Representative Kornfield, and other members of the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, my name is Sue Ely and I live in Yarmouth and work here in Augusta. I am the Climate and Clean Energy Staff Attorney for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), testifying on behalf of our more than 25,000 Read More
Maine Adds Dozens of New Electric Vehicle Chargers to Growing Network
NRCM news release October 25, 2019 (Augusta, ME) — It just got easier for electric car drivers to travel throughout Maine thanks to two new high-speed charging stations opening today at the West Gardiner Service Plaza. These new “DC fast chargers” can provide hundreds of miles of range in as little as 15 minutes, just Read More
New Rebate Encourages Mainers to Drive Electric
August 30, 2019 (Augusta, ME) — A new $2,000 rebate announced today by Governor Janet Mills is aimed at encouraging Mainers to chose electric vehicles (EV) as an opportunity to save money, reduce pollution that contributes to climate change and unhealthy air, and curb Maine’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. When combined with federal incentives, Read More
NRCM Testimony in Support of the Nomination of Phillip Bartlett, III for Public Utilities Commission
Senator Lawrence, Representative Berry and other members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee, my name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). We testify in strong support of the nomination of Mr. Bartlett for the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and believe Read More
NRCM Statement on Nomination of Phil Bartlett as PUC Chair
May 28, 2019 (Augusta, ME) – The Natural Resources Council of Maine released the following statement from Clean Energy Director Dylan Voorhees on Governor Mills’ nomination of Phil Bartlett as Chair of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC): “Phil Bartlett will provide the leadership on clean energy and energy efficiency that the PUC so desperately needs. Read More
Maine PUC Intentionally Holding Energy Efficiency Back, Costing Consumers Millions in Savings
NRCM news release May 3, 2019 (Hallowell, ME) – The staff at the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has recommended dramatic cuts to Efficiency Maine’s proposed three-year plan aimed at helping Maine households, businesses, towns, and industry save money through investments in energy efficiency. The staff recommendation released yesterday follows a disturbing pattern by the Read More
