Policy
Maine Policy News
Office of the Attorney General and Maine State Police Announce Release of Investigatory Documents in Mass Shooting
The Office of the Attorney General and Maine State Police are announcing the release of documents in the investigation into mass……
Governor’s Energy Office Welcomes United Kingdom Delegation to Maine to Advance Partnership on Floating Offshore Wind
The Maine Governor’s Energy Office welcomed a delegation from the United Kingdom to Maine to advance the partnership with the UK to foster and promote floating offshore wind.…
Maine nonprofit purchases PFAS-contaminated farm for research on chemicals in agriculture
Maine Farmland Trust announced has been working with farmers for several years as concerns grew that the state’s history of fertilizing fields with sludge had inadvertently contaminated some fields with PFAS…
New England States Issue Invitational Call for Innovative Project Design Concepts in Pursuit of Federal Funding
The Grid Innovation Program, administered through DOE’s $10.5 billion Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program, is intended to fund projects that improve grid reliability and resilience using advanced technologies and innovative partnerships and approaches. The deadline to submit concepts is October 20, 2023.
Governor Mills Announces $6.5 Million Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan Program for Electric Grid Upgrades to Support Rural Economic Development
Governor Mills announced a $6.5 million Maine Jobs & Recovery program to help Maine businesses update electrical grid capacity at their facilities to expand their operations and workforce.…
SAVE THE DATE: PILF Argues Before The First Circuit Court of Appeals
This case implicates significant issues of press freedom, the First Amendment, and clean elections. At issue is Maine’s penalties for speaking about public records.…
A proposed road is meant to ease traffic around Portland. Critics fear it could drive up emissions
During rush hour, Route 114 in Gorham is packed with commuters traveling from nearby towns to and from the Portland area. That’s why the MTA is pitching the Gorham Connector, a four-and-a-haf-mile long road
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Prices at smaller utilities work their way into debate over Maine’s energy future
In addition to Central Maine Power and Versant Power, eight municipal or co-operative utilities do business in Maine. The larger ones sell power at a lower cost than the two dominant investor-owned utilities.…
DACF Proposes Expansion of Quarantines to Slow the Spread of Three Tree Killing Invasive Species
The Maine DACF proposes expanding three forest protection quarantines to slow the spread of emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and European larch canker. Opportunities for public comment include public hearings…
When Identifying Mile-a-Minute Weed, Look for the Prickles and Ocrea
The Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry has confirmed the presence of mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) in Maine. Following the discovery, the DACF received over 150 notifications from alert Mainers regarding mile-a-minute weed.…
Maine is penalizing speech about election errors
In particular, if you look at the public voter roll and discover errors or duplicates, you aren’t allowed to talk about it, period.…
Vehicle right-to-repair question in Maine may be decided at the polls
A citizens initiative that would open certain types of vehicle diagnostic data to independent Maine auto repair shops may head to voters later this year.…
After Maine Surpasses 100,000 Heat Pump Goal Two Years Ahead of Schedule, Governor Mills Sets New, Ambitious Target
To continue Maine’s momentum, Governor Mills also unveiled a new target: installing another 175,000 additional heat pumps in Maine by 2027……
Slew of new bills revives debate over popular property tax relief program for older Mainers
Municipalities say the new program, which became law last year, is difficult to implement and too expensive for the state to sustain, prompting a debate over how best to keep older Mainers in their homes.…
MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION SETS DATES FOR PUBLIC WITNESS HEARINGS IN CENTRAL MAINE POWER DISTRIBUTION RATE CASE
CMP filed a three-year rate plan structure, citing grid reliability improvements, clean energy investments, improved storm response, and enhanced electricity usage monitoring and management tools as the drivers of a proposed increase.…
Couple who want to mine lithium deposit urge Maine lawmakers to ‘clarify’ mining laws
The couple that owns a lithium deposit in Newry potentially worth more than a billion dollars is urging the Legislature to act quickly to “clarify” state mining laws so they can mine the find as soon as possible.…
Maine Schools Could Lose Fed Funding Over Assessment Changes
The federal DOE is threatening to withhold money from Maine’s Dept. of Education (MDE) due to the state’s failure meeting student testing and data reporting requirements for reading, language arts, and mathematics.…
Legislature may ban foreign influence in Maine referendums
Supporters of a ballot initiative barring foreign governments from influencing Maine referendums are pushing the Legislature to enact the measure instead of sending it to voters in November.…
Maine prepares for end of pandemic-era Medicaid eligibility safety net
At the end of this month, a federal requirement that prevented people enrolled in Medicaid during the pandemic from losing coverage will expire.…
There’s a push to protect Maine’s abundant groundwater as more places deal with scarcity
Officials insist that water is plentiful, but some residents argue Maine has fallen behind in its oversight and should take a more active role in protecting it going forward.…