How the Omnibus Energy Bill Will Benefit Maine
There’s no arguing Mainers are paying too much for energy — significantly more than elsewhere in the country. For some time, Gov. Paul LePage has been saying that he wants to lower electricity rates,...
View ArticleCommittee Approves Bill to Protect Pregnant Women and Children from Toxic...
(AUGUSTA) Today, during their last work session of the year the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the Maine Legislature voted to strengthen Maine’s Kid-Safe Products Act to reduce...
View ArticleMaine Omnibus Energy Bill Cleared by Committee
AUGUSTA – A legislative panel voted 12-1 Friday to endorse an ambitious package of proposals aimed at lowering Maine's high electricity and heating costs.The so-called Omnibus Energy Bill, which...
View Article‘Historic’ Energy Bill Clears Maine Legislative Committee, 12-1
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill aimed at lowering the costs of energy while dramatically changing the way Mainers consume it vaulted out of a key legislative committee on a near unanimous, 12-1 vote Friday.The...
View ArticleTighter Mining Regulations for Maine Get Preliminary OK
State legislators will decide this week whether to change Maine's year-old mining law to add protections for water quality and financial safety nets for the state at potential mining sites including...
View ArticleBipartisan Energy Bill Would Lower Rates
Big things can start small. That was the hope Friday, when the nation’s first floating wind turbine was lowered into the Penobscot River, to be towed to a mooring off Castine.No one is expecting much,...
View ArticleHow the Omnibus Energy Bill Will Cut Costs to Consumers
Our historic, bipartisan omnibus energy legislation directly attacks one of the biggest problems facing the Maine economy: We pay too much for energy in Maine.For too long, the cost of energy has...
View ArticleMaine House Endorses Mining Bill
The Maine House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would tighten permitting and clean-up requirements for proposed open-pit mining operations. The bill's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jeff...
View ArticleMaine House Passes Mining Bill with Environmental Safeguards
AUGUSTA — A bill that adds environmental safeguards to the state’s mining law won initial support in the Maine House on Wednesday.The House voted 91 to 49 to pass L.D. 1302, which adds water quality...
View ArticleMaine House Passes Bill to Revise Mining Law in Attempt to Protect Water,...
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine House on Wednesday afternoon approved a bill that officials said would help protect water from pollution caused by mineral mining while also protecting taxpayers from footing...
View ArticleOmnibus Bill Represents Big Step Forward on State Energy Policy
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 has underinvested in our cheapest form...
View ArticleMaine Legislature Enacts Sweeping Energy Bill, Despite Veto Threat
It's being touted as an unprecedented solution to one of Maine's most pressing problems: The House and Senate today passed a bipartisan bill aimed at cutting energy costs. The support comes in spite of...
View ArticleMaine House Approves Far-reaching Energy Bill
AUGUSTA — The Maine House on Friday voted 131-7 to give final approval to L.D. 1559, the Omnibus Energy Bill.The bill now goes to the Senate for its last stop before landing on the desk of Gov. Paul...
View ArticleSenate Goes Against House, Defeats Changes to Mining Law
Augusta, Maine — On Thursday afternoon, the Maine Senate voted against a bill making changes to mining law that only a day before had received strong bipartisan support in the House of...
View ArticleSenate Passes Energy Bill in 28-7 Vote After Rejecting LePage-backed Amendments
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Senate gave overwhelming support to a comprehensive energy bill Thursday, voting 28-7 in favor of a far-reaching measure aimed at expanding New England ’s natural gas...
View ArticleAmbitious Energy Bill Moves Forward in Senate
AUGUSTA — An ambitious energy bill aimed at lowering Maine’s high electricity and heating costs is moving quickly through the Legislature with bipartisan support.The Maine Senate on Thursday voted...
View ArticleMaine Climate Change Study Moves Forward One More Step
AUGUSTA — Both houses of the Maine Legislature have initially passed a bill to resume a climate-change study that has languished during the administration of Gov. Paul LePage.L.D. 825, sponsored by...
View ArticleWhat the US, Maine Did Right to Address Climate Change, Electric Costs
On June 26, President Barack Obama delivered a compelling call to action on climate change. The president said that he will use the authority vested in the executive branch to reduce carbon pollution...
View ArticleMaine Enacts Law to Create New Paint Recycling Program
(Augusta, ME)—Maine is set to become the seventh state in the country with a law creating an industry-run collection and recycling program for leftover household paint. The law will provide Maine...
View ArticleLePage Vetoes Tar Sands Bill
PORTLAND — Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have directed the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to study the risks associated with transporting so-called tar sands oil...
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