Maine State Legislative 2014 Update!
Though there are quite a few bills left to be voted on, the 2014 legislative is coming to a close. The good news is that this session the legislature is supporting several pro-environment bills, and turning back numerous attacks on Maine’s environmental protections.
With your help, we helped to DEFEAT:
- Inadequate mining pollution standards (by supporting LD 1772 and LD 1851)
- Two anti-wind power bills (LDs 616 and 1323)
- Increasing the amount of timber harvested on state-owned land (LD 1838)
- Undermining state’s renewable energy standard (LD 646)
At this point, we are cautiously optimistic that the legislature will pass numerous pro-environment bills, notably:
- Ocean acidification study commission (LD 1602)
- Farm to school programs (LD 1431)
- Restrict gold prospecting in certain streams (LD 1671)
- An Act to Protect Maine Lakes (LD 1744)
- Funding for Maine’s solar rebate program (LD 1252)
- Solar study bill (LD 1652)
- Lake Protection bill (LD 1744)
- Water bond (LD 1455)
URGENT TAKE ACTION: Gov. LePage has promised to veto several of these bills. Please send a quick message to your state house representative and senator to ask them to support the bills above, as well as the mining pollution protection bills LD 1772 and 1851.
We are especially concerned that it will be difficult to override the Governor’s veto of the Solar Rebate bill (LD 1252), so please emphasize that you want your representatives to support it.
You can find contact information for your local representatives here, and you can find talking points and Sierra Club testimony for several of these bills here.
Thanks for all that you do to protect Maine’s environment,
Glen Brand
Sierra Club Maine Chapter Director