Time is Running Out to Register for our Annual Celebration!
Join us in the viewing of “Tomorrow,” an inspiring documentary about what individuals around the world are doing to help fight current environmental problems. After viewing the film, we will come together on November 12th from 6-7:30pm for an engaging panel discussion around the themes of the movie—energy, agriculture, education, democracy, and economy. Panelists include:
Tuesday is one of the most important elections of our time. The results of this election will dictate environmental progress or continued degradation for years to come. Your vote makes a difference!
If you have received an absentee ballot but have not returned it yet, drop it off at your town office as soon as possible and no later than 8pm on Tuesday, November 3rd.
If you haven’t voted absentee, make sure you know when and how you’re getting to the polls on Tuesday.
All polls in Maine close at 8pm but open between 6am and 10am depending on your town. To find out what time your polling place opens, contact your town office.
Arrange a ride to your polling place now if you don’t already have one.
Make time in your day to get to the polls - Do you need to take time off work? Do you need help with your children?
Offer to bring a neighbor to the polls with you! This is a critical election and every vote counts!
Regardless of the outcome of this election, we need to continue to lead the legislative effort to champion pro-environment laws and policies in Augusta. We need you to help create legislation, lobby legislators, testify on bills, host house parties, and more. Join our 2021 efforts by becoming a Legislative Team member! Contact us here to learn more or join us at our next legislative planning meeting on November 11th at 1pm - together we can make real change! Click here to register.
Forestry and Farming Practices Can Help Climate Adaptation
by Nancy Chandler
Natural lands in Maine currently sequester large amounts of carbon. Trees over 40 years old sequester carbon at a greater annual rate than younger trees, so planting new forests has more long term benefits than immediate ones. Instituting a national carbon sequestration system would be the best economic incentive to motivate large timber companies to commit specific areas of their forest lands to 50 years between harvesting. Carbon credit markets are operating in California and British Columbia, where the purchase of carbon credits provides income to projects that sequester carbon. However the $10/ton price of carbon stored as a carbon credit is not sufficient to incentivize Maine forest management companies to put any of their extensive forest lands into longer term management. Trees are now cut at 40 years of age, and unless there is a conservation easement on the forest, private timber lands aren’t protected from development. Click here to read the rest of Nancy's article.
Organize with our Ready for 100 Campaign!
Are you committed to transitioning your city, municipality, or state to 100 percent clean, renewable energy? READY FOR 100 is a national movement of people working to inspire our leaders to embrace a vision of healthier communities powered with 100% clean, renewable energy. We are asking mayors, CEOs, religious leaders, principals, civic and community leaders, parents, and students to commit to solutions that help us achieve 100% clean, renewable energy across the United States. If you are interested in starting a local campaign or would like tools to reach out to your local officials, contact our Grassroots Climate Action Organizer, Ania Wright, here.
NECEC Transmission Corridor: Crime Novel or Clean Energy Project? By Meg Sheehan, NAMRA
The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) hydroelectricity corridor project through Maine looks more like a crime novel every day.
Hydro-Quebec, supplier of the hydroelectricity for the corridor, is being pursued for a $4 billion debt by the Innu Nation of Labrador for “illegally taking” their land in 1969 to build the Churchill Falls hydroelectric dam. Fifty percent of Hydro-Quebec’s electricity is not its’ to sell, claim the Innu Nation of Labrador and First Nations of Pessamit (Innu), Wemotaci (Atikamekw), Pikogan, Lac Simon and Kitcisakik (Anishnabeg) while the Innus of Uashat mak Mani-Uteman are suing for $1.5 billion for stolen lands. Click here to read the rest of Meg's article.
Update on the Maine Climate Council
The Maine Climate Council is currently writing a new climate action plan for Maine that meets the carbon emissions goals set in statute of 80% reduction by 2050, and carbon neutrality by 2045. By 2045, Maine will have reduced its emissions by at least 80%. The remaining 20% of emissions will be offset by natural climate solutions such as wetlands. These offsets will sequester the equivalent of 4 million metric tons of CO2 per year. In the most recent cost/benefit analysis for the Climate Council, UMaine researchers indicated that the goal is achievable and that the most cost effective approaches will be in improved forestry practices.
Green Tip of The Month by Kyle Bonus
Transportation recently surpassed electricity as the single largest source of green house gas pollution in the US. While it’s easy to slip into cruise control with your driving habits, there are ways to improve your gas mileage that can have positive impacts on the environment, your vehicle and your wallet. To name a few:
Avoid speeding: After 60mph, fuel efficiency drops significantly. Every 5 mph you drive above 60 is like paying 24 cents per gallon of gas. Unless you’re going on a really long car ride, time savings are nominal.
After 30 seconds of idling, turn off your engine. Idling for just 30 seconds wastes more fuel and creates more emissions than restarting the engine.
Drive steadily: Avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking, which can lower your gas mileage by up to 33% and increase maintenance costs.
Thank you Nancy Chandler for the November Green Tip of the Month! Do you have a green tip that you would like to have included in a future newsletter? Please share it with us here!
The Month Ahead
Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!
The Maine Climate Council continues to meet to review the draft strategy for Maine’s next Climate Action Plan. The plan is due to the Legislature on December 1st - and there is a lot of work to be done until then! Review all of their work / recommendations here. Follow along with the Climate Council process by attending the next public meeting:
