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
Efficiency Maine
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
Maine to Boost Investment in Electric Vehicles
New rebate could double EV drivers statewide NRCM News Release March 13, 2019 (AUGUSTA, ME) – Maine residents will soon have the opportunity to take advantage of expanded charging stations and a new rebate for the purchase of electric vehicles under a climate change initiative announced by Governor Janet Mills today. Funding for the rebate Read More
NRCM Encourages Maine to Join Regional Effort to Curb Transportation Pollution
Points to Efficiency Maine announcement on fast charging EV stations as a positive step NRCM news release Augusta, ME – Below is a statement from NRCM’s Climate and Clean Energy Director Dylan Voorhees on an announcement yesterday that nine Northeast and mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia signed a landmark agreement to curb pollution Read More