New Reports Demonstrate Success of RGGI for Maine People, Business, Economy NRCM news release Westbrook, ME – Businesses and energy leaders gathered with the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) today to celebrate the success of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or RGGI. The multistate program to limit climate-changing carbon pollution from power plants achieved Read More
energy efficiency
Business, Conservation, and Citizen Leaders Gather to Herald Increasing Use and Benefits of Electric Cars in Maine
NRCM news release Portland, ME – Today, by a solar-powered electric car charging station, a diverse group of business and conservation leaders and citizen electric car owners gathered in Portland to recognize and celebrate the growing use of electric vehicles in Maine, as well as the tremendous benefits these vehicles can bring to our state. Read More
Collins and King Should Support New EPA Power Plant Proposals
The senators should affirm that running a business and making money aren’t mutually exclusive. by Tim Soley, president of East Brown Cow Management in Portland Portland Press Herald op-ed PORTLAND — Climate change is getting expensive. As the president of East Brown Cow Management in Portland, I own and manage more than 20 properties in Read More
Environmentalists, Energy Firms Spar Over LePage’s Bill to Increase Timber Harvest
By Mario Moretto, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Environmentalists and energy companies are lining up on opposite sides of a bill by Gov. Paul LePage to increase the state’s timber harvest and use the new revenue to pay for residential energy efficiency programs. The plan would slowly increase the public Read More
LePage Energy Czar: Timber Funds Needed Now
Foes say increasing the harvest to help Mainers heat their homes is the wrong solution to a real problem. By Kevin Miller, Washington Bureau Chief Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — LePage administration proposals to log more timber on state-owned woodlots to help homeowners pay for energy efficiency upgrades received mixed reviews Tuesday from lawmakers, Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 1838, An Act To Expand Affordable Heating Investments with Maine’s Public Resources
Good afternoon Senator Vitelli, Representative Dill, and members of the Committee. My name is Cathy Johnson. I am a resident of Alna. I am testifying today on behalf of NRCM’s 16,000 members and supporters in opposition to L.D. 1838. We oppose this legislation because it undermines the integrity of the public lands trust fund by Read More
LePage Plan to Hike Timber Harvest on Public Lands Meets Resistance
Susan Sharon MPBN news story Spring may have arrived on the calendar but the state’s energy director told a legislative committee that people around Maine are cold and in need of some relief. Patrick Woodcock made the case today for the LePage administration’s plan to boost timber harvesting on public lands and use the revenue Read More
LePage: Harvest More Timber to Lower Heating Bills
by A.J. Higgins MPBN news story Gov. Paul LePage will submit a bill to the Legislature this week that, if approved, would pump more money into a home heating conversion fund. He would pay for it by increasing the timber harvest limits on state-owned land. But critics of the plan say that’s an improper use Read More
Plan to Use State Timber Money for Energy Rebates Under Attack
WGME news story AUGUSTA (WGME) — It’s one of Maine’s largest natural resources. Trees. And Governor Paul LePage wants to use Maine’s trees to lower your energy costs. The governor wants to increase commercial logging on state-owned public land, and use the additional money to help people convert to more efficient home heating systems. Governor Read More