Latest news with #LD1
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor signs new law that offers residents $15,000 to strengthen their homes: 'I'm proud to sign this bill'
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways A newly signed bill in Maine aims to offer its citizens protection against the looming threat of severe weather events in the state. On April 22, 2025, Maine senators unanimously passed LD 1, or "An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities, Homes and Infrastructure." The bill comes in the wake of over $90 million in recent winter storm damage to public infrastructure across Maine. Shortly after the bill passed in the Senate, Maine governor Janet Mills signed it into law. The bill will provide $15 million in funding to establish the Home Resiliency Program, which will allow homeowners to apply for grants of up to $15,000 to make investments in their homes to "safeguard" them against storms. During the bill signing ceremony, governor Mills highlighted its importance for the people of Maine. "I'm proud to sign this bill into law, a bill that will allow Maine communities, homeowners, businesses, emergency response leaders and others to prepare for the extreme weather events of the future and make Maine a safe place to live in the process," Mills said. Governor Mills formed the Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission in May 2024 to evaluate the state's response to winter storms. This included identifying key areas for investment and policy changes and developing a long-term infrastructure plan. Pat Keliher, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, noted the significance of the newly formed commission. "The storms of this past winter have provided a wake-up call for Maine," Keliher said in a statement. "It is critical that we have a plan to confront the harsh reality of a changing climate." According to a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an increase in pollution has had a clear influence on the rise of severe weather events. As the global temperature continues to increase, communities may face more frequent and stronger heat waves, heavy downpours, and severe storms. Cathy Breen, director of government affairs for Maine Conservation Voters, applauded the signing of LD 1 into law. "There is no corner of Maine safe from the severe weather we've seen in recent years and the serious conditions predicted for the future," Breen wrote in a statement. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As lawsuits threaten state climate superfunds, officials caution Maine from adopting one now
Passersby observe the floodwaters at Veterans Memorial Park on the banks of the Androscoggin River in Lewiston on Dec. 20, 2023. (Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Although Maine often prides itself on living out its motto to be a leader, especially with environmental policy, state leaders are encouraging lawmakers to pause efforts to hold fossil fuel companies accountable. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Melanie Loyzim acknowledged that Maine will need billions of dollars to address the impacts of climate change, but she said now is not the time to move forward with a proposal for fossil fuel companies to cover those costs, citing the legal battles miring states that have already taken such action. Balancing that need and timing, Loyzim told the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday that the department is neither for nor against two bills seeking to establish a superfund for large fossil fuel companies to pay for infrastructure repairs, resiliency efforts and other costs in the rural and low-income communities disproportionately affected by flooding and other disasters. 'The fossil fuel industry created a mess in Maine and it's high time they are responsible for cleaning it up,' said Sen. Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland), who sponsored one of the bills. LD 1870 would establish the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, which would be funded by payments from fossil fuel businesses responsible for more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 1995 and 2024. The legislation stipulates that at least 35% of the funds would need to be used for climate change adaptation projects that benefit low-income households. Trump attack on state climate laws likely doomed, but attempts to yank funds may be next Brenner said her bill, with one Republican cosponsor, is a natural extension of the bipartisan efforts behind LD 1 that was signed into law last month. That symbolic first bill of the session created funding opportunities to make Maine homes more resilient and established a new State Resilience Office to address flooding and other impacts of extreme weather. That legislation was in response to the series of severe storms that caused an estimated $90 million in damage to public infrastructure across Maine last winter and builds upon $60 million for storm relief that was included in the state's supplemental budget last year. 'Instead of needing to pass a bill like LD 1 every single legislative session, we can establish a climate superfund to better prepare for and respond to storms,' said Jackson Chadwick, advocacy director for Maine Youth for Climate Justice, testifying in support. During the public hearing, Rep. Grayson Lookner (D-Portland) introduced LD 1808 that similarly seeks to establish a superfund to hold fossil fuel companies accountable, especially since research has shown that companies including Exxon knew of the harm decades ago and actively sought to suppress those findings. Though there is a lot of overlap between the two bills, Lookner said his bill provides a more robust definition around an 'environmental justice focus populations' that could better direct superfund dollars to communities hit hardest. During the hearing, many of the proponents said they prefer LD 1870, but Lookner and others encouraged the committee to take the best components of each bill when streamlining the proposals. Maine Lobsters Union Local 207 submitted testimony in support of Lookner's bill, saying that Maine needs a plan for the future so heritage industries that rely on the waterfront, like lobster fishing, aren't left with debilitating damage from extreme weather and little means to make the repairs. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce opposed the measures, arguing that they pose risks to Maine business by retroactively assigning financial liability to companies that were lawfully engaging in business. It fears such legislation would signal that Maine is an unpredictable place to do business. Sen. Denise Tepler (D-Sagadahoc), who co-chairs the committee, asked Brenner if the superfund would pay for damages in the five areas of her district that are being impacted by sea level rise. Brenner reminded her that costs to repair roads and other public infrastructure in those areas are currently being paid for by taxpayers. Some committee members questioned whether the model would increase prices at the gas pump or on energy bills, but Brenner said she believes existing financial regulatory processes would prevent costs from being pushed on to consumers. Maine isn't the first state to explore the idea of a climate superfund, as Vermont and New York have already passed similar legislation. However, those states, as well as Hawaii and Michigan, have subsequently been sued for those policies, including by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department said the lawsuit is also meant to advance an executive order from President Donald Trump that targets state and local policies involving climate change, environmental justice and carbon emissions reductions. Rachel Rothschild, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Law School, told the committee it is unprecedented for the DOJ to bring that type of lawsuit and she is skeptical of the viability of the claims. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi argues these policies threaten the country's energy independence, while the lawsuit claims they are unconstitutional and preempted by the federal Clean Air Act. However, Rothschild said the Clean Air Act addresses future pollution, whereas the superfund looks at pollution retroactively. Climate superfunds, like the one proposed in Maine, build upon a long-standing principle in environmental law known as 'polluter pays.' That is the same principle that requires identifiable polluters to foot the bill to clean up hazardous waste sites. Cathy Breen, who testified on behalf of the Environmental Priorities Coalition, said the state has adopted other uses of that principle through policies such as the beverage container redemption program, as well as the recently extended producer responsibility program for packaging. LD 1870 is a priority for the coalition of 40 conservation, climate and public health organizations this legislative session. Loyzim said it would be helpful for Maine to wait and see how that litigation plays out in other states before creating a superfund of its own. She recommended the state wait until next year to dig into this topic and what it could look like in Maine. This would also allow the state to determine how best to implement the policy, including details like whether it would share data with other states, to better estimate the cost of such a policy. Rep. Dan Ankeles (D-Brunswick) asked Loyzim how to ensure that the department continues to lay the groundwork for that conversation if the committee chooses to defer it until next year. Loyzim said they will already be tracking those legal challenges but also suggested the committee could convert one of the bills into a directive for the department to work on a report to inform future discussion. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislature poised to pass emergency bill to better prepare Maine for extreme weather
Central Maine Power lineworkers shared photos of some of the destruction they encountered from the Dec. 18 storm. (Courtesy of CMP) After an initial passage vote Tuesday in the Maine Senate, an emergency measure to better prepare the state for extreme weather events passed the Maine House of Representatives Thursday. Both chambers took their initial passage votes under the hammer for the symbolic first bill of the session, which is meant to represent a coming together of the parties. Sponsored by party leadership in both chambers, LD 1 is a three-part proposal that seeks to improve emergency communications, create funding opportunities to make Maine homes more resilient and establish a new State Resilience Office to address flooding and other impacts. The Legislature's Housing and Economic Development Committee amended the bill to clarify certain language and flush out the Home Resiliency Program, which would provide grants to help homeowners better equip their houses to withstand severe weather events. Since the bill contains an emergency preamble, it will require two-thirds support in the next round of votes, known as enactment votes. If that support is secured, the bill would take effect immediately upon passage, rather than waiting the usual 90 days after the session adjourns. The legislation follows the interim recommendations from the Maine Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission, which Mills established by executive order last spring in response to the series of severe storms that caused an estimated $90 million in damage to public infrastructure across Maine last winter. It also builds upon $60 million for storm relief that was included in the state's supplemental budget last year. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bipartisan leaders come together to try to make Maine more resilient to extreme weather
The fishing vessel Tara Lynn II crashed into the rocky coast of Cape Elizabeth amid powerful winds and record-breaking tides on the coast of southern Maine. The crew was rescued. Jan. 13, 2024. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) The first bill of the legislative session, meant to be a symbol of the parties coming together, had a public hearing Thursday. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) was joined by co-sponsor House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) in presenting the governor's bill to the Legislature's Housing and Economic Development Committee. LD 1 is a three-part proposal to better prepare the state for extreme weather events. It seeks to improve emergency communications, create funding opportunities to make Maine homes more resilient and establish a new State Resilience Office to address flooding and other impacts. 'Moving forward, I and the other bill sponsors want to help empower our state to prepare, so we don't have to always repair,' Daughtry told the committee. The proposed legislation follows the interim recommendations from the Maine Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission, which Mills established by executive order last spring in response to the series of severe storms that caused an estimated $90 million in damage to public infrastructure across Maine last winter. The proposal builds upon $60 million for storm relief that was included in the state's supplemental budget last year. Though Maine's coastal communities saw extensive damage in the storms, Daughtry clarified that the bill would benefit the entire state because inland communities also need to prepare for flooding, wind damage and threats to water supplies. 'LD 1 won't stop storms, but it will help people be better prepared,' Faulkingham said. The proposal's three new initiatives do not rely on the state's general fund or taxpayer money, but instead leverage federal dollars and an unintended surplus of fee-based revenue from the state Bureau of Insurance. Environmental advocates including Maine Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Council of Maine and Maine Audubon praised the bill for its proactive approach to mitigating the effects of climate change. Though the Maine Insurance Agents Association agreed resilience is important, it opposed the measure because its funding mechanism relies in part on fees paid by agents and insurance carriers. One initiative in the bill is the Home Resiliency Program, which would provide grants to help homeowners better equip their houses to withstand severe weather events. Insurance Bureau Superintendent Bob Carey testified in support of the program and explained its two main components: roof replacement and flood resistance. Roughly three-quarters of instances where an insurer decides not to renew a homeowner's policy is due to substandard roofs, Carey said, noting that this has been an increasing problem. The program would help homeowners who need new roofs to better withstand strong wind and rain events. Last winter's storms also demonstrated a need to fortify homes against flooding, Carey said. He said he envisions grants funded through the new program could be used for improvement projects such as elevating utility connections, sealing foundations and installing sump pumps to minimize the damage from water seepage. 'These programs will help Maine residents harden their homes to deal with more frequent and intense storms,' Carey said. 'We also believe they will foster a broader culture of preparedness.' As drafted, the bill limits the program to homeowners whose permanent residence is in Maine. Carey suggested amending the program to provide tiered-grants based on income. Between March 2022 and May 2024, Maine had nine natural disasters severe enough to warrant presidential disaster or emergency declaration, said Maine Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director Joe Legee. 'These events underscore the urgent need to enhance our capacity to respond to and recover from disasters, especially at a time when the future of federal support, federal assistance is uncertain,' Legee said, nodding to ongoing spending cuts and freezes made by the Trump administration. Effective and accurate information before, during and after disasters is crucial, Legee said. The proposed legislation wants to enhance statewide disaster communications systems by adding new languages for more translation options and better targeting alerts to ensure they reach those who need to see them as well as minimizing alerts to people outside of disaster areas. The bill also proposes $10 million to bolster the disaster recovery fund, which is used to meet the state's legal obligation to cover a portion of the costs associated with federally declared disasters, Legee said. Having sufficient money in that fund helps communities recover more effectively, especially small municipalities that have faced multiple severe weather events in recent years, Legee said. The bill also invests in a new program that would better prepare Maine residents for flooding through improved data and risk reduction measures. A new flood readiness program would update flood models and maps, especially in areas where they are the most outdated, said Hannah Pingree, director of the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. With that, it would create an online data hub to improve community access to flood risk data. The data work would be funded through a one-time $9 million investment, Pingree said, adding that there would be ongoing financial support for regional floodplain management and risk reduction. She also said this could increase participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. A new State Resilience Office will coordinate the flood readiness program, as well as other related activities, using a $69 million federal grant the state was awarded last year, Pingree said. 'LD 1 is a vital down payment on a more resilient future for Maine,' Pingree said. 'It creates a foundation of information, capabilities and capital upon which the state can build a robust system that increases protection for Mainers and their property against storms, floods and other hazards.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
