Dear John,

The 2024 Legislative Session is more than half over! I’ve been spending long days in Augusta talking to lawmakers about the Environmental Priorities Coalition’s policy agenda, supporting initiatives to protect our democracy and climate future, and advocating for funding for bills to protect the environment and communities in Maine.

There’s still a lot to do before the session ends in April – read on for key updates and actions you can take to move important legislation forward.

We’re so thankful for supporters like you – we couldn’t do this work without you! 

Thank you for taking action,

– Beth

Fund Critical Environmental Bills

A number of important environmental bills passed the Maine Legislature last year. But, some of those bills are stuck in limbo and can’t move forward until they receive the funding they need. 

Proposals to advance environmental justice, support an outdoor school experience for all Maine students, fund the Maine Climate Corps program, and protect forests in Maine were all carried over to this session and are now sitting in the Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee – awaiting funding. 

The AFA Committee must match up funding needs with the available budget, resulting in many good and important bills dying on the “appropriations table” when the often-opaque process is completed. 

We need your help to make sure that doesn’t happen. Will you sign the petition to urge legislators on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee to fund these critical environmental bills?

Bill McKibben Supports an Offshore Wind Port

Yesterday, the Bangor Daily News published an op-ed by renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben in support of an offshore wind port on Sears Island. We recommend reading the full piece, which you can find here.

McKibben writes about the importance of saying yes to projects that are critical to advancing climate action and protecting communities on the front lines of climate change. He sheds some light on the thinking behind his support. Read below for a few of our favorite quotes:

“If this were one of the past proposals for Sears Island, like a container port or LNG terminal, I’d join the picket line in protest. But this time is different.”

“The consequences of our climate catastrophe are already here, and to say no — to use delay as a tactic to kill climate-positive projects like this offshore wind port — is to deny that reality and shrug off the deadly impacts.”

“Climate change requires us to make urgent decisions about our economy and infrastructure: what, where, and how we build. The consequences of inaction are catastrophic, first for the poor and marginalized in our neighborhoods and around the world, and then in every community on the planet.”

Updating Maine’s Climate Action Plan 

In 2020, Maine launched its first Climate Action Plan: Maine Won’t Wait. Now, nearly four years later, it’s time to track the state’s progress towards the goals set in 2020 – and update the plan with the overarching goal of meeting the climate crisis at the scale that science and justice demand.

On Wednesday, MCV and our partners from Maine Audubon, Conservation Law Foundation, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and others hosted a webinar: Maine’s Climate Action Plan Update: Everything You Need to Know. We shared Maine’s progress, the Climate Council’s continuing work, and opportunities to get involved. 

In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of the webinar here. 

Update on Wabanaki Self-Determination

LD 2007, the bill to advance Wabanaki self-determination, had a public hearing on Monday, February 26. We saw an impressive outpouring of support – and the large volume of supportive public testimony sent a clear message to legislators about the strength of this movement.

LD 2007 is moving forward. A smaller compromise bill is currently being negotiated with the Governor’s office. Legislators and advocates are hopeful that a smaller version of the bill, encompassing areas of agreement, will pass. 

We need to keep up the momentum to get this bill over the finish line. Will you consider writing a Letter to the Editor (LTE) to your local newspaper to continue to elevate the importance of Wabanaki self-determination? See the Wabanaki Alliance’s LTE guide and LD 2007 talking points for all the guidance you need! For additional support, please email [email protected]. 

Tell your legislators: End the sale of flavored tobacco products

Flavored tobacco products are hooking young people and harming the environment. It’s time to end this unnecessary harm. 

Together with our partners in Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition, we are working to address this crisis by supporting LD 1215, “An Act to End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products.”

Tobacco products are some of the most polluting products in Maine and around the world, contaminating waterways, harming wildlife, and threatening human health by leaching toxic chemicals into the environment. This is also a public health and equity issue. Flavored tobacco products are designed to attract and hook kids, and the tobacco industry's tactics have historically targeted African-American communities, perpetuating health disparities and disproportionately affecting Black youth.

This bill will be voted on soon. Please send a message to your legislators urging them to vote yes on LD 1215 to protect public health and the environment.

Save the Date: Conservation Lobby Day 2024

One of the most important ways we advocate for our policy agenda is by bringing people from across the state together in Augusta to speak directly to lawmakers on Conservation Lobby Day! We hope you will plan to join us this year at the State House on Wednesday, April 10 from 8 AM - 11:30 AM.

If you haven’t experienced Conservation Lobby Day before, here’s what it’s all about: Members and activists from around the state gather together at the State House to hear from leaders fighting to advance climate action, further environmental justice, and protect the environment and communities. We then help facilitate opportunities for you to talk with your lawmakers  about issues that affect you and your community and legislation that will make a difference. Make sure to register here to join us!

Save the Date: Earth Day Beach Cleanup

As we get closer to the end of the legislative session, we’re reminded that spring is on its way! And with spring, comes Earth Day. We hope you will plan to join us for an Earth Day Beach Cleanup on Saturday, April 20 from 10 AM-12 PM at Old Orchard Beach.

We have FREE “Earth Day” tote bags to give to the first 50 volunteers who arrive, and Coast of Maine is generously donating 50 bags of Stonington Blend Organic Plant Food to the first 50 visitors – so sign up today!

We’re delighted to be partnering with Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation on this event and excited to feature a short presentation on endangered Piping Plovers from the Maine Audubon Coastal Birds Project. 

Thank you to our Beach Cleanup sponsors: Dirigo Solar, Lee Auto, Bristol Seafood, Coast of Maine, and Luke’s Lobster! And special thanks to Holy Donut for providing snacks (almost 100 donuts – you won’t want to miss it!)

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