NRCM Blog

NRCM's Polar Plunge - Watch Our (short) Video!

On December 31, some two dozen NRCM staff and supporters plunged into the icy Atlantic off Portland, Maine, to raise awareness of and funds for global warming work. If you weren't there, you can still catch the excitement (sorta). Watch our fun, short Insider video. Thanks to all who joined us!

 

At the Maine ballot box tomorrow: Vote No on Question 2 and Question 4

Don’t be fooled by greenwashing!

NRCM encourages you to vote NO on Question 2 and Question 4 on the November 3rd ballot. Your “No” vote is a vote that will help protect Maine’s environment.

Question 2 pretends to be a measure aimed at promoting the purchase of hybrid and high fuel efficiency vehicles.  Don’t be fooled. Question 2 is a thinly veiled attempt to slash municipal budgets through reductions in excise taxes, in a fashion most likely to force towns to raise property taxes to cover necessary municipal services.

The measure would cut excise taxes on vehicles less than six years old, and eliminate for three years the excise tax on hybrid vehicles.  But there are many hybrid vehicles that are not fuel efficient.  The $70,000 Cadillac Escalade, for example, gets 18 miles per gallon.  Why should the owner of such a vehicle get a tax break, when someone else with a 2001 Toyota that gets 36 miles per gallon gets no break?  The Cadillac Escalade does nothing in the way of contributing to cleaner air, reducing fossil fuel consumption, or providing a cleaner environment.

The motor vehicle excise tax is a primary source of revenues for the upkeep, maintenance, and construction of more than 13,000 miles of local roads and over 800 bridges.  If excise taxes are cut, then other taxes will need to be raised to provide for the infrastructure improvements that we all depend on. Safe, well-maintained roads cut down on erosion that can harm streams and cause other environmental problems.

Question 4, referred to as TABOR II, could weaken Maine’s natural resource agencies, damage the Land for Maine’s Future program, and block funding increases needed to weatherize Maine homes and boost energy independence. 

TABOR was defeated by Maine voters twice before, in 2004 and in 2006.  TABOR's rigid and arbitrary formula would harm Maine’s efforts to protect our environment.  It would immediately threaten Maine’s bond rating, which would directly impact the Land for Maine’s Future program. In addition, funding for Maine’s natural resource agencies, already at low levels, would continue to decline.  Special revenue funding for programs like the Loon Conservation License Plate would be at significant risk, and it could be nearly impossible to increase funding for energy efficiency and weatherization programs that are needed to help protect Maine people from future increases in oil costs.  TABOR also would curtail funding for K-12 education, health care, and other important programs.  Question 4 is a direct threat to the progress we’ve made on environmental protection. 

PLEASE VOTE NO ON QUESTION 2 and QUESTION 4.

See you in court: NRCM appeals Plum Creek decision

Today NRCM filed an appeal in Maine Superior Court of LURC’s decision on the Plum Creek development plan for the Moosehead region.  After spending countless hours reviewing LURC’s decision, and sharing the frustration of Maine people, it became clear that there were substantial grounds for an appeal and a need to do so.

We took on the Plum Creek issue knowing that the odds were stacked against us.  Appeals of this type are an uphill battle.  But we believe we have a strong case, and we are confident in the legal team that is representing us.  And without the strong commitment of our members and activists, we could not be doing this important work. 

We’ve posted information about the appeal on our website.  This includes a detailed position statement, a Question-and-Answer list, and the full text of the appeal for those of you who are interested in the details.