NRCM Blog

A Clear Case for Climate Legislation

We are at a critical juncture when we need bold, bipartisan support to help ensure passage of a comprehensive climate and energy bill this year.

This article in Grist by Dave Roberts makes the case clearly. It should give our bloggers the incentive to turn on the political heat that Roberts calls for. Pick up the phone and call Senator Snowe and Senator Collins (in-district office numbers) this week to ask them to be our climate champions and work towards a bill that will pass the Senate. They could make the difference for the planet. The time for hand-wringing is over. We need this sea change towards a clean energy future for Maine's economy and environment and for our children's future. 

Read here:
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-05-17-leaning-forward-why-the-american-power-act-is-worth-fighting-for/PALL/print.

Lisa Pohlmann, NRCM Deputy Director

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!

 

"Climate Change and Google's View of a Clean Energy Planet"- in Portland tomorrow night

 
Why should you plan to attend NRCM's October 7 event featuring Dan Reicher, Google's Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives at Google? NRCM staff share our top ten reasons why you won't want to miss it. Watch our video!

Dan Reicher, Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives at Google will be the keynote speaker at our annual meeting, Wednesday, October 7, 2009 in at Hannaford Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland. Learn more and register today. Join us for

National climate blogger calls Mainers to action

The U.S. must get its act together and pass federal climate legislation if we hope to avert a climate disaster. This was the message from climate scientist and clean energy expert Dr. Joe Romm at an August 18th NRCM event at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Romm edits the nation's most read climate blog (www.climateprogress.org) and served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy. To hear more from Joe Romme, visit the "NRCM Insider."

The fossil fuel industry has launched a massive disinformation campaign and is bankrolling fraudulent lobbying tactics to block passage of climate and clean energy legislation, according to Romm. He explained that the climate bill passed in the House of Representatives this summer will create a huge number of clean energy jobs, especially through massive funding of energy efficiency programs through revenues from a cap and trade program. Establishing a cap on carbon emissions and investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy will be absolutely critical for reducing carbon emissions.

"Anyone who is paying attention to what we are doing to the climate knows that we'd better do something." Romm encouraged Maine people to contact Senator Olympia Snowe (207) 874-8883 and Senator Susan Collins (207) 780-3575 to urge their support and leadership in passing strong climate and clean energy legislation this year. NRCM is encouraging members and activist to get involved in the nation’s most significant environmental legislation in a generation.

Whether or not you’ve attended an event like this one with Joe Romm, we’d like to hear from you here on our blog about your efforts to take action. Did you make a call to one of the Senators? Or write a letter? What motivated you? Did you get a response?

Dylan Voorhees, NRCM Clean Energy Project Director

Watch NRCM's hilarious new video!

The Natural Resources Council of Maine encourages you to join others around Maine for Commute Another Way Week next week - May 11-15, 2009.  We thought we would give you some ideas of ways to commute to work that won't pollute or harm the environment.  Let us know how you are commuting to work, and what you think of our video! 

To sign up or learn more about Commute Another Way Week, visit http://www.gomaine.org/cawday/.  

Thanks! 

Andy Rooney on Global Warming

Watch CBS Videos Online

We thought you might be interested in seeing what Andy Rooney has to say about global warming.  Let us know what you think about his commentary on global warming, alternative fuels, and his concern that we are going to run out of the things we need before we find replacements for them.  Interesting piece - please share your thoughts with us!

Shining a Light on Earth Hour - this Saturday at 8:30 pm local time

This is the second year that I will be participating in Earth Hour.  Earth Hour is happening all over the world at 8:30 PM local time this Saturday, March 28th.  During this hour of time, we are supposed to turn off our lights for 60 minutes - as a show of our commitment to finding solutions to stop climate change.  You can learn more - about Earth Hour and about Earth Hour events happening near you - at www.earthhourus.org. 

My participation will take place at my "other job" - I run a youth program and will have forty young people and adults with me, and we will be in the middle of our Saturday night dance when 8:30 arrives.  This makes turning lights off easy, because they will have already been turned off at 7 PM so that kids can dance and limbo and not have to see that the old fuddy duddy chaperones are watching to ensure that everyone is safe, dancing appropriately, and not wandering off.

I think that Earth Hour is a great way to raise awareness of climate change issues, and sitting in the dark for an hour can give everyone time to think about letters-to-the-editor, letters to elected officials, or other ways that we can share our concern with others around us, especially with those who are in a position to institute policies that will make a difference.

So remember, set your alarm for 8:30 PM on Saturday night, turn out the lights, and if it's nice outside, why not head out to look up at the stars.  With all of the lights out around you, hopefully you will have a clear view of the night sky. 

Let us know how you used your Earth Hour this year.  Your hour in the dark can help to shed light on the important issue of climate change.

Beth

Hot Tips, Cool News

When it comes to energy issues, everyone agrees that Maine needs a new direction. There are 100 energy bills being discussed in Maine’s State House. For the first time, the federal government is seriously focused on global warming legislation—as an opportunity to further stimulate our economy with a clean energy renewal. Here at NRCM we are working to design and help build a secure energy future for Maine. With so much going on we wanted to let you know about some great events, as well as opportunities for you to get involved.

About once a month, NRCM sends an e-news update called Hot Tips, Cool News! to our members and activists interested in clean energy and global warming. If you haven't yet signed up to receive this e-newsletter, you can sign-up today by sending an email with your name and email address and a subject line of "energy news" to nrcm@nrcm.org. 

Hot Tips
Get Audited  Have an energy audit done on your house to find out exactly how you use the energy you are paying for and where you can start economizing.  It's more fun than getting audited by the IRS and more likely to save you money. For a list Maine certified energy auditors click here.
Keep It Low  Turn down your thermostat 10 degrees or more when you are sleeping or away from home.  An automatic timer makes this task easier.
Our Environment's in Hot Water  Install a tankless "on-demand" hot water heater.  Running a conventional hot water heater is like leaving a kettle boiling 24 hours a day in case you want a cup of tea!

Cool News
Maine businesses urge congressional delegation to lead fight to help stop climate change Business leaders from across Maine gathered at the Maine State House on February 4th to release a letter to Maine’s congressional delegation, urging swift, strong, and effective action to help address the threat of climate change. The letter was signed by more than 100 leading Maine businesses such as Hannaford Brothers, Lee Auto Malls, Oakhurst Dairy, Verso Paper, Lamey Wellehan, Mattson Development, and the Harraseeket Inn. To read the letter and to learn more click here.

A green cheer for the stimulus bill The stimulus package will invest $37.5 billion in energy savings, including $4.5 billion to boost the energy efficiency of federal buildings; $6.3 billion for local energy efficiency and conservation grants; and $5 billion to weatherize homes, all of which promises to put idle construction workers back on the job, and the list goes on. Read more here.

America has become the world leader in wind power Last year the U.S. ramped up wind-power capacity to 25,000 megawatts (MW), overtaking the previous leader, Germany. The U.S. added 8,400 MW of installed power in 2008, more than any other country. Read more about this news here, or visit NRCM’s wind power pages to find out what’s happening right here in Maine.

As you can see, this is a busy time for clean energy work in Maine. Please consider signing up for our monthly energy and global warming e-newsletter. To sign up, please send an email with your name and email address and a subject line of "energy news" to nrcm@nrcm.org. To learn more about upcoming energy-related events, visit www.nrcm.org/energy_events.asp. 

Thank you for your interest in Maine’s clean energy future,

Emmie Theberge
NRCM Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator

Birds wintering farther north than 40 years ago. Have you seen any in your backyard?

Do you have a comment about this news story or this issue? Read the article and leave your comment on our blog! Thanks for your interest in NRCM’s work.

Birds Wintering Farther North, Audubon Says
Associated Press news story, February 10
As printed in the Portland Press Herald

"An Audubon Society study...found that more than half of 305 birds species in North America, a hodgepodge that includes robins, gulls, chickadees and owls, are spending the winter about 35 miles farther north than they did 40 years ago.

The purple finch – New Hampshire's state bird – was the biggest northward mover. Its wintering grounds are now more along the latitude of Milwaukee, Wis., instead of Springfield, Mo.

Bird ranges can expand and shift for many reasons, among them urban sprawl, deforestation and the supplemental diet provided by backyard feeders. But researchers say the only explanation for why so many birds over such a broad area are wintering in more northern locales is global warming."

Read the full article here.  And let us know if you have seen any birds this winter that you haven't seen around your yard before.  Thanks!

Beth Dimond

PS - For more about birds and global warming, read our interview acclaimed conservation ecologist Dr. Jeff Wells.

Hundreds Attend Global Warming Protest

    NRCM staff got a kick out of this.  We thought you might too.