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“Pumping dirty tar sands oil through Maine to Portland Harbor is a dangerously irresponsible proposal,” said Glen Brand, Sierra Club Maine Director. “A leak on the scale of the Kalamazoo River spill into Maine’s rivers, lakes, or coast would be catastrophic for Maine communities and our tourism and fisheries industries.”
An Enbridge pipeline carrying tar sands spilled more than 840,000 gallons of sludge into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River in 2010. Drinking water, wildlife, tourism and businesses and citizens suffered the consequences of the spill.
The Canadian National Energy Board today closed public input on the proposed Line 9 Reversal Phase I tar sands pipeline project after receiving more than 41,000 citizen comments in opposition. A coalition of 11 groups submitted the comments which focus on the environmental and public health dangers presented by the tar sands project and the need for a comprehensive environmental and public safety review.
“The higher temperatures and pressures needed to move tar sands through the pipeline would significantly increase the risk of the pipeline leaking or rupturing. The effects could be devastating to the Androscoggin River, Sebago Lake, and Casco Bay,” said Environment Maine Director Emily Figdor.
Maine's electic customers can now choose alternative energy sources as their suppliers. graphic by Ramona du Houx
Today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission and 3Degrees, a leading renewable energy provider, announced Maine Green Power, a new, statewide green power program. This voluntary program gives Mainers the opportunity to purchase locally produced renewable energy.
“Maine has abundant hydro, wind, biomass and other renewable energy resources,” said Commission Chairman Thomas Welch. “Maine Green Power will enable our state’s residents and businesses to encourage further local development of these resources by choosing to power their homes and businesses with renewable energy generated in Maine.”
A Healthy Home team with Seth Wescott on a hike at Brabury Park after the announcement of L.L. Bean's million dollar donation promoting outside activities in Maine.
Olympic gold medalists Joan Benoit Samuelson and Seth Wescott were on hand for the announcement of a million dollar donation from L.L. Bean to Healthy Hometowns. The company’s donation will expand the now-seasonal programs at the Caribou-based Maine Winter Sports Center throughout the year and help fund ways for young people to get outside and exercise.
The donation also expands the Healthy Hometowns program from 100 locations in Maine to 400.
The University of Maine has been named one of the top scorers in the annual Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition, and was one of only 16 profiled institutions named to its Green Honor Roll for receiving energy-efficiency and sustainability ratings of 99 — the highest possible score.
“The University of Maine has long recognized its leadership role in promoting and actively pursuing environmental stewardship,” said University of Maine President Paul Ferguson. “At UMaine, going green is not just a philosophy, but a way of life, from our four LEED-certified buildings to our Green Campus Initiative.”
Mars Hill wind farm - the first commercial wind project in the state of Maine
Mars Hill has produced more than 627,000 megawatt-hours of energy and generated approximately $2.5 million in tax revenue for the town of Mars Hill since March 27, 2007. First Wind’s 42 MW Mars Hill Wind project supplies clean, renewable energy to local ratepayers in northern Maine.
The Mars Hill project, which cost about $90 million to develop and build, generates enough power for an average of 20,000 Maine homes each year. New Brunswick Power purchases all of the power and it is distributed to homes and businesses in Northern Maine. Reflecting the cost-competitiveness of wind energy with traditional fossil fuel sources, New Brunswick Power was recently able to offer a 10-20 percent discount in its standard offer service in the Mars Hill service territory.
This month, Travel & Leisure named the City of Portland the 7th Greenest City in the US. Citing the city’s farm-to-table restaurants, microbrews and access to the outdoors, Travel & Leisure readers selected Portland as a green, clean, pedestrian friendly city with pristine parks and open spaces. As a part of Travel & Leisure’s annual America’s Favorite Cities survey, readers ranked thirty-five metropolitan areas on a variety of travel-friendly qualities and based upon these results identified the greenest cities.
“It’s nice to see the city get this well-deserved national attention,” remarked Mayor Michael Brennan. “From our farmers markets to miles of trails, the city has embraced policies that make it easier for our residents and businesses to live safe, healthy lives in a clean and supportive environment. This green quality of life doesn’t just make Portland a great place to live and work, but attracts new people and businesses looking for a community that shares their values.”
The osprey have returned to Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport. A male osprey, or fish hawk, landed at Googins Island on Tuesday night, unpacked his bags and made himself at home on his nest, Park Manager Andy Hutchinson announced Wednesday.
“He looked like a new arrival,” Hutchinson said, “and the neighbors came by to check him out.”
As Hutchinson watched the osprey, who appears to be the same male of two pairs that annually return to the state park, three immature bald eagles flew by in formation and checked out the newcomer.
“I’ve never seen that before,” said Hutchinson, a well-known naturalist. “Perhaps they were siblings from a nearby nest. When they got too close, he took off and went right after them.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed historic new limits on carbon pollution from new power plants. Carbon pollution fuels global warming, which leads to poor air quality that triggers asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Scientists also predict that global warming will lead to more devastating floods, more deadly heat waves and the spread of infectious diseases.
“Today’s proposal from the Obama administration is an historic step in protecting Mainers health and our environment. By setting the first-ever standards for the largest source of the carbon pollution that fuels global warming, President Obama and EPA Administrator Jackson are standing up for Mainers —and putting our health above the demands of the polluter lobby,” said Anika James
Total proceeds for Maine to date are over $30 million
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), spearheaded by the Baldacci Administration in Maine, brought in $1,439,023.44 million to the state from the last cap and trade auction. To date Maine has made $30,178,278.45 in proceeds that have benefited various weatherization and energy efficiency programs in the state.
“Every dollar we keep in our region supports growth in local economies,” said David Littell, a Commissioner of the Maine Public Utilities Commission and Vice Chair of RGGI, Inc. “RGGI investments keep $765 million in our states by reducing fossil fuel expenditures. At the same time, we are reducing harmful pollution. This double impact—of enhancing local economies and reducing emissions—is what makes RGGI so effective.”
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