By Robert S. Seymour, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed The LePage administration’s proposed merger of Maine’s Bureau of Public Lands with the Maine Forest Service, along with its proposal to increase timber harvests on public lands, is a serious threat to the bureau’s long legacy of excellent forestry in Maine. It should Read More
home heating
LePage Bond Threat Puts Land Preservation—and Maine’s Reputation—at Risk
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Gov. Paul LePage has again threatened to withhold bond funding until he gets what he wants. This time, he is holding hostage money for the Land for Maine’s Future program — bonds voters approved in 2010 and 2012 — until he gets approval to cut more Read More
LePage Won’t Sell Conservation Bonds Without Timber Harvest Deal
The governor’s stance casts doubt on the ongoing viability of the Land for Maine’s Future program. By Kevin Miller, Portland Press Herald staff reporter Kennebec Journal news story AUGUSTA — A LePage administration official said Tuesday that Gov. Paul LePage does not plan to sell more bonds for Land for Maine’s Future projects and that Read More
House Passes Bill with Rebates for Solar Panels, Heat Pumps
by Scott Thistle, State Politics Editor Sun Journal news story A bill that seeks to expand the use of photovoltaic solar panels in Maine and is funded with a fee to electric ratepayers passed the State House on Wednesday with what appears to be broad bipartisan support. Key to the support was an amendment to 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
