Dear John,

What a year — and it’s not over yet. 2020 has challenged us as we navigate unprecedented times as Mainers and as members of our communities, as a nation, and as a world. 

This year has upended all things we thought to be certain and has revealed many weaknesses in the underpinnings of our society, but it's also a year of incredible opportunity. With local and federal elections on the horizon, upholding our democracy and ensuring all eligible Mainers are able to safely vote in November is of paramount importance.

Political accountability is also a cornerstone of the work we do here at Maine Conservation Voters. Each year, we look forward to bringing you our Environmental Scorecard to showcase how your lawmakers measure up. 

That's why we're proud to share with you Maine Conservation Voters’ Environmental Scorecard for the 129th legislative session.

Click here to see how your legislators scored on critical environmental issues and votes this session.

This year’s Scorecard was a little tricky because the 2020 session, unfortunately, was cut short due to the pandemic. The Scorecard relies on votes from 2019, which was an historic year for making progress on climate action and environmental protection. 

We now have in law initiatives that invest in solar power, increase renewable energy to 100% by 2050, and reduce carbon pollution by 80% by 2050. A new Governor’s Climate Council was formed to write a plan for achieving these ambitious targets. The legislature strengthened water quality standards and fishing rights, especially for Tribes in Maine. And Maine finally banned single use plastic bags, polystyrene containers, and coal tar.

These accomplishments would not have happened without the leadership of Governor Janet Mills, Senate President Troy Jackson, House Speaker Sara Gideon, and many conservation champions in the legislature. 

And it was your commitment to holding your legislators accountable — lobbying and meeting with lawmakers, sending emails and making phone calls — that helped push lawmakers to take positive action for our environment and climate future.

Take a moment to see how your legislators stacked up during the 129th legislative session.

Alternatively, you can click here to download a PDF of the scorecard.

While the pandemic has shifted all of our priorities, it has not undone the significant progress we made in the 129th session. Thank you for your partnership to score these incredible victories, as well as your support during these difficult times.

With hope and gratitude,