The Maine Legislature is nearing the end of an active and productive session. Though today is the last day on its formal calendar, there is still a lot of work to do and the Maine Audubon team expects that the Legislature will meet at least through the end of the week. Until then, we want to keep …
legislation
Maine Audubon in Augusta: Mid-Session Updates from the Legislature
We have lots of updates from a busy session in the Maine Legislature! Let's dive right in after some notices on a few upcoming events: This Thursday, May 18, is Conservation Lobby Day in Augusta. Members and supporters from conservation organizations across the state will join in Augusta to …
Update: Offshore Wind in the Gulf of Maine – May 2023
As momentum toward offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine ramps up, Maine Audubon strives to understand its impacts on wildlife and habitat, and is actively working to support development that avoids or minimizes those impacts and that propels Maine towards its clean, renewable energy …
Bill to Help Protect Loons from Lead Poisoning on Tap in the Legislature
For decades, lead poisoning has been one of the leading causes of loon mortality in Maine, but we're working to prevent it. Loons ingest a striking amount of fishing tackle that is either lost or left behind, or in fish that have ingested tackle. When swallowing small pebbles to aid their …
Maine Audubon Joins Coalition of Offshore Wind Supporters to Announce Critical Legislation
The state of Maine is closer than ever to generating clean, renewable energy from winds in the Gulf of Maine. A single test turbine is scheduled for testing a few miles off of Monhegan Island. An array of 10-12 turbines in federal waters about 45 miles off of Portland has received the green light …
The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act: Frequently Asked Questions
In early August 2022, Maine Senators Angus King and Susan Collins jointly introduced a bill to allow for the growth of one of Maine's most important conservation areas: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Maine Audubon is a proud supporter of the monument, which protects habitat for Canada …
New Law Will Expand Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
March 31, 2022 (Augusta, ME) – A bill that will expand Maine’s network of ecological reserves to protect more habitat for the state’s rich array of plants, animals, and other species was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on Tuesday March 29, 2022. State-owned ecological reserves cover less …
Encouraging Climate Education in Maine Public Schools
Maine’s climate is changing rapidly, and our best chance to mitigate or prevent harm in the future is to act decisively now. That means reducing greenhouse gases, transitioning to a clean energy climate, and preparing our children for the future. A bill moving forward in the legislature, LD 1902, …
Priority Legislation: Improving Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
Among our priority legislation for the second session of Maine's 130th legislature is LD 736, An Act To Enhance the Ecological Reserve System. As Maine faces growing threats from irresponsible development, pollution, and climate change, it is more important than ever to protect rare, threatened, …