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
energy efficiency
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
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
NRCM Statement on Override of Governor’s Veto of Omnibus Energy Bill
Statement by Dylan Voorhees, NRCM Clean Energy Project Director “This override vote is great news for Maine people and our environment. Most importantly, the bill will cut energy costs significantly for homeowners and businesses, which will be good for Maine’s economy, energy security and pocketbooks. “NRCM has worked hard to pass this bill because it Read More
NRCM’s Response to President Obama’s Climate Action Plan
NRCM press release Yesterday, President Obama announced a major climate change action plan that will help Maine and all Americans tackle the gravest environmental threat of our time, plus spur economic opportunities, and protect our health. We are pleased that the President has listened to the American people and shown his leadership and determination to Read More
Omnibus Bill Represents Big Step Forward on State Energy Policy
The measure addresses transmission costs and efforts to step up efficiency and fight global warming. by Dylan Voorhees and Beth A. Nagusky Portland Press Herald op-ed You may find it surprising that we agree with Gov. LePage that Maine’s energy costs are significantly higher than they need to be. For more than a decade, Maine Read More
Opposition to LD 1468, An Act to Establish the High-efficiency Biomass Pellet Boiler Rebate Program and the Home Heating Conversion Fund
Senator John Cleveland, Chair Representative Barry Hobbins, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology Senator Cleveland and Representative Hobbins, While NRCM supports the use of wood pellets as a heating source to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, overriding concerns about the bill cause us to oppose it. As stated in the attached Read More
LePage Energy Legislation Would Increase Maine Energy Bills by More Than $100 Million
State Senator Jim Boyle Proposes Legislation to Cut Energy Bills through Energy Efficiency NRCM Statement “It is refreshing to see that Governor LePage now supports energy efficiency improvements as a key way to lower residential heating costs. Energy efficiency is our most cost-effective energy resource, and one we can control right here in Maine. Weatherization Read More
NRCM Wins U.S. Green Building Council Award
NRCM Press Release Portland, ME —The US Green Building Council’s Maine Chapter has awarded its 2012 Advocate of the Year Award to the Natural Resources Council of Maine. The award recognizes NRCM’s outstanding efforts to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in Maine, as well as a myriad of other efforts to protect Maine’s environment Read More
