For Immediate Release – December 18, 2025 (Augusta, ME) – Several of the state’s leading conservation groups have filed an appeal with the Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) asking them to require improvements to Central Maine Power’s (CMP) flawed Conservation Plan for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project. As outlined in its permit […]
Forests
NECEC’s Conservation Plan Was Not Fit for Approval
Proposed in 2017, Central Maine Power’s New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line would carry hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts, requiring a 150-foot-wide, 53-mile corridor through undeveloped woods in Western Maine. Maine Audubon has engaged throughout the entire review process to assess wildlife impacts and push for adequate mitigation outcomes. Developing a Conservation Plan […]
Marking Maine Arbor Week 2024
Maine Audubon is once again joining other lovers and conservators of Maine’s forests and flora to honor Maine Arbor Week, celebrated this year from May 19 to 25. It serves to remind us of the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of flora, particularly our hundreds of native tree species. In 1978, the Maine legislature designated […]
Arborist Jeff Tarling joins Maine Audubon, introduces speaker series in October
When Jeff Tarling retired from his role as Portland�s Arborist in January, we were sad to see him go, but honored to have collaborated with him on many projects. Jeff worked for the city for 34 years and became well known for his passion for trees, his community engagement, and his commitment to the greening […]
Tracking an Invasion at Gilsland Farm
All the basic information about the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is right there in its name: “emerald” refers to the hue of its iridescent body; “ash” for the family of trees that these jewel beetles feed and lay their eggs on; and “borer” for the tunnels young beetles dig through the bark, eventually leading […]
NECEC AND FOREST FRAGMENTATION PART 4: THE WOOD TURTLE
This is the fourth post in our series on the wildlife impacts of Central Maine Power’s proposed New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line project. As we wrote in our introductory post, Maine Audubon feels strongly that NECEC and its mitigation plan offer unsatisfactory protections for Maine wildlife and is especially deficient in its […]
NECEC and Forest Fragmentation Part 3: The American Marten
We’re continuing our series on Central Maine Power’s proposed New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line project, focusing on its impacts to Maine wildlife. Maine Audubon feels strongly that NECEC and its mitigation plan offer unsatisfactory protections for Maine wildlife and is especially deficient in its consideration of habitat fragmentation. We began with an […]
NECEC AND FOREST FRAGMENTATION PART 2: THE OVENBIRD
We’re continuing our series on Central Maine Power’s proposed New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line project focusing on the potential impacts to Maine wildlife. Maine Audubon feels strongly that NECEC and its mitigation plan offer unsatisfactory protections for Maine wildlife and is especially deficient in its consideration of habitat fragmentation. (Read Part I […]
New England Clean Energy Connect and the Impacts of Forest Fragmentation
New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a transmission line proposed to bring electricity from hydro facilities in Quebec to consumers in Massachusetts. In the proposed path of construction for the transmission line lies a 53-mile stretch of undeveloped Maine woods between the Canadian border and The Forks. Construction of NECEC would carve a 150-foot-wide […]