My quiet, tree-lined neighborhood in South Portland is called Pleasantdale. But the toxic stench from nearby petroleum tank farms frequently makes our neighborhood decidedly unpleasant. I can step out my door on a beautiful day – be it spring, summer, fall, or winter – and instead of fresh air, get a lungful of what smells Read More
fossil fuels
The Climate Aspect of Plastics (and Other Nasty Tidbits of the Cycle)
Plastics! The 1970’s movie, “The Graduate,” talked about the business prospect and the future of plastics. Did anyone at that point in time have any idea how much our use of plastics would grow? Plastics have contributed to the convenience of our lives while also adding to a major pollution problem. Walk through a grocery Read More
Reusable Bags are the New Comeback Kids
Small victories need to be celebrated, particularly when you’re up against the monstrous plastic industry and fossil fuel companies. Store managers can now allow customers to bring in reusable shopping bags, according to the COVID19 Prevention Checklist Industry Guidance provided by the Maine Department for Economic and Community Development. This is a small but meaningful Read More
Maine Environment Spring 2020 Newsletter
Maine Environment Spring 2020: What’s Inside! In this issue of Maine Environment, we feature a story about the 30-year legacy of our former Forests & Wildlife Director Cathy Johnson, who retired earlier this year. You can read the full version of the story online. Cathy helped protect Moosehead Lake from a massive development proposal by Plum Read More
News & Noteworthy — April 2020
The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s Media Relations & Advocacy Communications Director Colin Durrant shares his thoughts on the latest news related to Maine’s land, air, water, and wildlife each week. Here are this week’s stories: April 22, 2020 Earth Day The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day of course garnered a lot of media coverage, Read More
Fossil Fuel Companies and Plastic Industry Exploiting Health Crisis for Profit
There is a lot to worry about these days. The COVID-19 pandemic has made us rightfully worried about the health and economic well-being of ourselves and our loved ones. This new worry comes on top of our existing concerns about our environment and the challenges that future generations will face due to climate change, plastic Read More
A Victory for Energy Consumers and Climate Action
NRCM statement The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today completely rejected a proposal that would have benefited Central Maine Power (CMP) by doubling the fixed monthly charges for residential and small business customers over the next four years. The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) has been a party to this lengthy case because increased Read More
3 Reasons Maine Needs the Transportation and Climate Initiative Now!
Right now, 12 states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are developing a regional Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) that could help create more affordable and healthier transportation options for Mainers and lead to less pollution from cars and trucks. Today the states released a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and results of economic modeling on Read More
Maine House Passes Ban on Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling
NRCM news release June 3, 2019 (Augusta, ME) — The Maine House of Representatives today passed a bill (LD 955) to ban offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration in Maine’s ocean waters. In January 2018, the U.S. Department of Interior proposed to vastly expand offshore drilling and exploration, including off the coast of Maine, Read More
