Only three weeks left for petition signatures to stop CMP's transmission corridor
January 2020
LUPC Approves Transmission Corridor Project
OKs from Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Environmental Protection still needed by Central Maine Power.
At a January 8 meeting in Brewer, Maine's Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) voted 5 to 2 to grant a key certificate needed for Central Maine Power Company’s (CMP) transmission corridor project. The LUPC approval follows the OK given by the Public Utilities Commission last spring. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers still need to sign off on the plan. The commission ruled that the project complies with LUPC's land-use standards. It will require CMP to remove and in some cases add vegetation, assure emergency vehicles access, and get the necessary construction permits. Sierra Club Maine Director Alice Elliott said that the LUPC’s approval was expected but is still disappointing. “This project will negatively impact the environmental quality and recreational value of the affected areas in Western Maine,” Elliott said. “Every poll shows that’s a big concern for the people of Maine, so it’s hard to understand how the LUPC could arrive at this decision.”
Have You Signed the Petition to Stop the Transmission Corridor?
Sierra Club Maine and other groups are stepping up their efforts to get signatures on a petition to put the question of stopping Central Maine Power's transmission corridor project on the 2020 ballot. If you haven't signed, we urge you to do so by the petition submission deadline on February 3. Sixty-thousand verified signatures are needed for the question to get on the ballot. You can sign the petition at the Sierra Club office in downtown Portland (565 Congress Street) any weekday. Other locations include:
69 Maine Street Studio, 69 Maine Street, Bucksport Bay City Garage & Fuels, 93 County Road, Eastport The Mercantile, 133 Broadway, Farmington Handmade Maine, 414 Maine Street, Norway Mainers for Local Power Offices: 11 Columbia Street, Augusta (Michelle—207-418-2396) 140 Elm Street, Biddeford (Nick—973-477-0954) 449 Forest Avenue Suite #201, Portland (Guy—219-895-6769)
You Can Become a Sierra Club Outings Leader
Training session to be held on March 14.
Do you like to explore the Maine outdoors with likeminded people? Why not consider becoming a Sierra Club outings leader—it’s fun and rewarding. Our March 14 workshop is what you need to start leading or co-leading outings with us. The morning session will cover all pertinent Sierra Club outings' policies and procedures. The afternoon will consist of prepping for, and considering outings you might want to lead this year. This training, a Sierra Club membership, and an active first aid training certificate are all you need to start co-leading on Sierra Club Maine outings. The key to successful outings leadership is to plan outings that are well within your comfort zone, for both your, and other people's enjoyment and safety. Please RSVP here as soon as possible if you would like to attend. Depending on interest, we will pick a suitable location, most likely in the Brunswick area. Look for more location details on the chapter web site and in the February e-news. If you have questions, you can email workshop leader Susan Levene at suelevene@gmail.com
Portland CAT Looking Toward Special 2020 Earth Day Event
April 22, 2020 will mark the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. The Portland Climate Action Team (PCAT) is looking forward to being part of a public event to celebrate this special anniversary in Portland. The team is supporting the theme of “Climate Action” and it envisions an event with advance outreach and organizing to maximize participation and broad diversity. The PCAT is encouraging leadership from the young and from diverse communities. They are interested in knowing what other groups may be planning an event, so that the team can collaborate and provide support. It would also welcome suggestions from Sierra Club Maine members on what you think the Portland Climate Action Team can do to help make this 50th anniversary of Earth Day in Portland successful and meaningful. If you have ideas or would like to help with the event please contact Jon Hinck at jhinck1@maine.rr.com We look forward to creating a wonderful celebration of the Earth, people, and nature that helps support and generate positive climate action.
Upcoming Events
York Ready for 100 Combating Climate Change January 15—6 to 9 p.m. York High School, 1 Robert Stevens Drive
Join York Ready for 100 on Wednesday, January 15th at the Community Auditorium at York High School to hear from our three featured speakers—Director of the Maine Energy Office Dan Burgess, State Senator Mark Lawrence, and State Representative Lydia Blume. The speakers will discuss the steps being taken by the state to meet its greenhouse gas reductions and renewable energy generation targets as it works to combat climate change. For more information click here.
Cumberland Solar Array Ribbon Cutting January 21—9:30 a.m. Cumberland Landfill
The Town of Cumberland and ReVision Energy are hosting a ribbon cutting at the Cumberland Landfill on Tuesday, January 21st at 9:30 a.m. to celebrate the town's recent solar installation. The array, comprised of 1,248 solar panels, will produce over 600,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year! Representatives from ReVision Energy will discuss project highlights and Cumberland officials will talk about what the solar array means for the town.
Kennebunk Films WASTED! The Story of Food Waste January 24—7 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church 114 Main Street, Kennebunk
Every year 1.3 billion tons of food is thrown away, adding up to one third of all food grown and raised for human consumption. This highly acclaimed film explores the reasons for this waste and looks for ways to fix the problem. WASTED! aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the the eyes of chef-heroes like Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system. The film exposes the criminality of food waste and how it’s directly contributing to climate change. It shows us how each of us can make small changes, all of them delicious, to solve one of the great problems of the 21st Century. Join us at 7 p.m. for the film or at 6:30 for coffee, tea, and brownies.
Weekend Outing Mt. Blue State Park, Avon Thursday, July 23—Sunday July 26 12:00 PM
Make plans now to join us at Mt. Blue State Park in July for a long weekend of fun and adventure. There will be a variety of hikes and a paddle in Weld Lake. All activities are at a moderate level. Participants will need to register separately for each outing and sign the waiver to participate. Please register early. If there is enough interest we'll host a group campsite by the lake at Mt. Blue Campground. The costs for group camping are $5 per person per night.
