Former Vice President Al Gore on July 17 challenged the United States to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources within ten years. He proposed creating a national grid to connect wind power in the Dakotas with cities to the east and west. In issuing this challenge, Vice President Gore echoed the efforts of the The Apollo Alliance, a "coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution in America to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, cut the carbon emissions that are destabilizing our climate, and expand opportunities for American businesses and workers."
According to a joint press release from Maine Audubon and the Natural Resources Council of Maine, during a month-long comment period which ended July 11, Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission received 1,762 comments opposing Plum Creek’s development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. Of these, 1,517 stated specific opposition to development at Lily Bay. Six people contacted LURC during this period to voice support for Plum Creek’s plan as currently envisioned. By 85.8 percent, all comments received by LURC during this comment period oppose Lily Bay development, an additional 13.9 percent oppose the entire Plum Creek proposal, and only 0.3 percent support the plan.
A Moosehead Conservation Framework agreement among The Nature Conservancy, conservation partners, and landowner Plum Creek would conserve more than 400,000 acres around Moosehead Lake. The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Mountain Club and the Forest Society of Maine are jointly raising public and private funds for the project. The total cost of the easement and fee purchases will be $35 million.
On Tuesday, August 5, oil fell to below $120 per barrel. Many market observers believe the drop in oil prices is due to a decline in demand. For example, U.S. gasoline demand in July 2008 was 2.4% below last year's consumption. Forecasters expect overall annual gasoline demand for the rest of the year to be between 2% and 5% below 2007's level of 390 million barrels per day. If so, U.S. consumers will burn between 7.8 and 19.5 million fewer gallons of gasoline this year than last. This will be the first annual decline over the previous year since 1991.
Saturday, August 9 - Field Trip: Glacial Geology of Merrymeeting Bay, Brunswick High School. Join surficial geologist Tom Weddle, a 22 year veteran of the Maine Geologic Survey, and Friends of Merrymeeting Bay for an exciting walk back in geologic time. The group will meet at 8:30 am in the front parking area of Brunswick High School. Pre-registration is required for this trip. Please register with trip leader Tom Weddle at 729-6122 or Thomas.K.Weddle@maine.gov
Sunday, August 10 - Hydrogen Vehicles Visit Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth. The Hydrogen Energy Center (HEC) and Maine Clean Communities (MC2) are pleased to bring a fleet of hydrogen vehicles to Portland Head Light (Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth) on Sunday August 10, 2008 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Thursday, August 14 - Free Hot Water from the Sun, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us to learn from Master Plumber George Doughty how to heat your water with free solar energy. To reserve a spot, please call us at 729-4050.
Tuesday, August 26 - Maine Railway Transportation Forum, 5:30 - 8 pm, Glickman Library, University of South Maine, Portland Campus. An overview of the economic potential of Maine's railway system. Sponsored by the Sierra Club and Fishman Realty Group. For more information, please call 761-5616 or 775-6561.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, September 19-21 - Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, 9 am to 6 pm (5 pm Sunday). Come to the Fair and see why Downeast Magazine calls Common Ground "Maine's most authentic country fair, uniting, as it does, old-time folkways with progressive ideas about living the good life on a fragile planet." While you're there, stop by our booth in the Energy & Shelter tent. For more information, please visit www.mofga.org »
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