On March 25th, Maine Governor John Baldacci signed a first-in-the-nation “framework product stewardship” law, introduced by Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes (D-Yarmouth). The law creates a systematic approach for identifying troublesome products in the waste stream for new “product stewardship” programs – which assign end-of-life recovery and recycling costs to product manufacturers. The approach will be Read More
Governor John Baldacci
Vinalhaven Celebrates Community Wind Power Project
On November 17th, hundreds of people gathered on the island of Vinalhaven for a ribbon-cutting ceremocy for the Fox Island Wind Project, a community wind power project that will provide clean renewable power for the islands of Vinalhaven and North Haven. The three turbines have 4.5MW of wind power capacity, representing the largest coastal wind power project Read More
Anti-pollution Bills Now Law
by Chris Cousins Times Record news story AUGUSTA — Two bills designed to improve Maine’s environment and protect public health became law Monday with the signature of Gov. John Baldacci. One law requires manufacturers of mercury-containing compact fluorescent light bulbs to take responsibility for their disposal by developing a program for recycling them by 2011. Read More
Governor Signs Toxics Bills
Surrounded by legislators, advocates and children, Governor Baldacci held a ceremonial signing of two important bills dealing with toxic pollution. First up for his signature was a first-in-the-nation law to create a recycling program for compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) which contain small amounts of mercury. Bill sponsor Rep. Seth Berry (D-Bowdoinham) was accompanied by his Read More
Governor Baldacci Signs Major Energy Bill
With the signature of his pen, Governor Baldacci today signed into law one of the most significant pieces of Maine energy policy ever. NRCM staff and members played a big role in developing and passing An Act Regarding Maine’s Energy Future, which also was a huge priority for Maine’s environmental community, energy efficiency businesses, and Read More
NRCM Staff Help Keep Mainers Warm
On Friday a few co-workers and I got together and participated in the Keep ME Warm program that Gov. Baldacci has created. I must say the participation in this was a team effort. Beth started the ball rolling. She had previous obligations and wasn’t able to winterize the homes but she pulled together all the materials and Read More
Wrap up from Governor’s Energy Efficiency Summit – Thanks to All Who Attended!
Hopefully the more than 500 of you who attended last week’s Governor’s Energy Efficiency Summit left at the end of the day as excited as I did. It was a great day that began with an excellent keynote speech by Thomas Casten of Recycled Energy Development who provide compelling examples of how we can be Read More
Energy Efficiency Report Released
by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Maine businesses could save more than $450 million a year in energy costs by adopting cost-effective efficiency measures, according to a report being released this morning by university researchers. These measures could help create between 1,500 and 2,500 jobs by 2020, the report said, and Read More
Carbon Cutters Win State Praise
by Kevin Miller Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA – State officials recognized 20 Maine companies and institutions Monday for taking steps to shrink their “carbon footprints” and reduce energy consumption. In 2001, the governors of the New England states joined their counterparts in eastern Canada in committing to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by Read More
