Dear John,
On my way to the Maine Climate Council meeting this foggy fall morning, I watched red and yellow leaves float down from roadside trees and felt so thankful for the environment here in Maine – and especially motivated to keep advocating for climate action as a member of the Natural and Working Lands Working Group of the Climate Council.
At the first meeting of the Maine Climate Council four years ago and throughout the process, we saw incredible representation from Maine people that resulted in a strong 4-year plan to tackle the climate crisis, reduce carbon pollution, and build resilient communities. This time around, I’m eager to build on the existing plan and weave in recommendations from the Equity Subcommittee to ensure that the most vulnerable in our state are at the heart of the next plan.
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As I watch the excitement build around me at the beginning of the new Climate Council process, I’m reflecting on our work so far this season – and from referendum elections to big events to news updates, we have a lot to share with you! Read on for some of what we’re up to this fall. |
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We were delighted to see many of you in person at the Common Ground Fair over the weekend! Thanks so much to those of you who stopped by our table to say hi and discuss some of the issues we’re working on, including our annual Environmental Scorecard and support of referendum Question 6. We are grateful to be part of this community with you. |
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2023 Maine Conservation Voters Environmental Scorecard |
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MCV’s annual Environmental Scorecard is an important tool that ensures state legislators are held accountable for their votes on key bills impacting the environment, justice, and our climate future. It’s a straightforward way to let you know how your lawmakers are voting on some of the top issues of the session.
That’s why we’re so excited to share our 2023 Environmental Scorecard with you! You can get a sneak peek at the scorecard here. The full release will be coming out soon. |
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| On November 7th, Maine voters will head to the polls to vote on eight referendum questions. We are supporting the Wabanaki Alliance in their campaign to achieve YES on Question 6.
Some history behind the question: When Maine first became a state, the Articles of Separation were included in the state constitution, separating Maine from Massachusetts. In 1875, the state of Maine stopped printing sections of the Articles of Separation, including section 5 – Maine’s treaty obligations to the Wabanaki Nations. The Wabanaki people were written into the Maine Constitution. We can honor this shared history together by once again including treaty obligations in printed copies of the Maine Constitution. |
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This session, the legislature unanimously supported a bill to print the full state Constitution – voting for fairness, transparency, and accuracy. Now the question goes to voters. It will look like this on the ballot: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require All Provisions in the Constitution to Be Included in the Official Printing. Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that all of the provisions of the Constitution be included in the official printed copies of the Constitution prepared by the Secretary of State?
We can move forward together once we understand the history, commitments, and obligations governments made to the Wabanaki Nations. Passing Question 6 is essential for a healthy relationship between the Wabanaki and the State of Maine. If you’d like to volunteer to canvass or phone bank in support of Question 6, please fill out this form. |
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Paid for by MCV, 295 Water Street, Suite 9, Augusta, ME 04330 as an in-kind contribution to Restore Maine’s History |
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I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz about Question 3: Do you want to create a new power company governed by an elected board to acquire and operate existing for-profit electricity transmission and distribution facilities in Maine?
If a majority of voters support the referendum, Maine will work to establish the Pine Tree Power Company, a nonprofit electric utility that would take over Central Maine Power Company and Versant Power. But what happens next? And what happens if voters reject the referendum?
The Maine Conservation Voters / Maine Conservation Alliance team has spent countless hours wrestling with those questions. We’ve read materials and testimony from both Pine Tree Power supporters and critics, consulted with energy experts in Maine and beyond, and had discussions with partners and stakeholders on all sides of the issue. After careful analysis and discussion, our organizations have adopted a position of neutrality on the question — while maintaining an unwavering commitment to climate action, utility accountability, energy literacy, and a strong democracy.
You can read the full story behind our neutral position in this blog post. |
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Indigenous Peoples' Day Rally |
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| On October 9, at 9:30 AM, the Wabanaki Alliance and supporters will gather outside the State House in Augusta to rally in support of Wabanaki sovereignty and Question 6.
We’ll be there, and we hope you’ll join us to help demonstrate just how many Mainers support justice for the Wabanaki Nations, and truth and transparency in our state’s constitution! Please fill out this form to RSVP.
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MCV’s Energy Justice Manager Kelt Wilska attended the American Floating Offshore Wind Technical Summit (Afloat) Conference in Portland this week, where he met and learned from offshore wind advocates, industry experts, and government officials. The event was filled with exciting discussions about the path forward for floating offshore wind in Maine – and the potential to address climate change and position our state as a clean energy leader using technology developed right here at the University of Maine.
I caught up with Kelt yesterday, and he shared this takeaway with me: “Our coalition passed a groundbreaking bill this summer that will jumpstart the offshore wind industry in Maine. Now we need to build a port in Maine that can assemble these turbines with family-sustaining jobs and bring this industry to fruition.” |
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Kelt and friends at the Conference! Left to right: Jason J. Shedlock, President of the Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council, MCV’s Energy Justice Manager Kelt Wilska, and Jennifer Deloney, Strategic Communications Director for New England for Offshore Wind. |
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ICYMI – MCV was in the New York Times! Reporter Jim Tankersley featured Maine's newly passed offshore wind bill, highlighting the successful partnership between environmental advocates and organized labor – and included a quote from our very own Senior Director of Policy and Partnerships, Kathleen Meil. Maine's effort can be a national model for addressing climate change, building the clean energy economy, and creating good-paying jobs. We're excited about continuing to develop this powerful partnership, leading to durable climate wins that are rooted in equity. |
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Evening for the Environment |
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Our biggest event of the year is less than a month away! On Thursday, October 26, from 6:00-8:00 PM, at the University of New England’s Innovation Hall in Portland, we’re hosting our annual Evening for the Environment. We’ll gather to celebrate Maine’s climate, justice, and environmental victories — and spend time together as a community. Please register here to join us!
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We couldn’t be more excited about our featured speaker, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, who will be in conversation with Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador Maulian Bryant. Ambassador Bryant will talk with Dr. Johnson about her experience as a policy expert, marine biologist, author, and climate activist. Dr. Johnson co-edited the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, co-created the Spotify/Gimlet climate solutions podcast How to Save a Planet, and co-authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. She is the author of the forthcoming book What If We Get it Right? and will be teaching at Bowdoin College this spring.
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Fundraiser at Kennebunkport Conservation Trust |
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A small but mighty group joined us at Kennebunkport Conservation Trust on Wednesday night to connect and invest in a shared vision of a cleaner and more equitable Maine. We enjoyed a fall-inspired potluck in one of the many beautiful areas of our state, as well as words from MCA and MCV board and staff and powerful music from violinists Sophie Davis and Luke Fatora. Because of the collective financial support of this amazing group of people, we raised close to $7,000.
Thank you! |
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We’re so appreciative of our community of members and supporters who make this work possible. We can’t do this without you! Onward, |
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Maureen Drouin | she/her Executive Director Maine Conservation Voters
[email protected] |
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Maine Conservation Voters
295 Water St.
Ste. 9
Augusta, ME 04330
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