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Maine AG asks judge to dismiss EV lawsuit that claims state is failing to reach climate goals

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Maine AG asks judge to dismiss EV lawsuit that claims state is failing to reach climate goals


Maine officials on Friday asked a state judge to dismiss a lawsuit by environmentalists accusing the state of failing to meet targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by not adopting a policy to boost the sales of electric vehicles.

The Department of Environmental Protection is not required by law to adopt a policy expanding electric vehicle use and its “alleged failure or refusal” to adopt the policy is discretionary and not subject to judicial review, the state said in its response to an April 22 lawsuit by the Conservation Law Foundation, Sierra Club and Maine Youth Action.

The lawsuit, filed in Cumberland County Superior Court, also said that the environmental groups’ accusation that the DEP has failed to adopt rules required by Maine’s statute regarding greenhouse gas emission reduction should be dismissed because the groups do not have legal standing to make such a request.

In addition, the state said the DEP has not failed to comply with climate change legislation and that the lawsuit asks the court to to breach Maine’s constitutional separation of powers.

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Emily K. Green, senior attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation in Maine, said the state “would be better served by spending its time and resources to implement our climate law, rather than attempting to dismiss our lawsuit before we get a day in court.”

Environmentalists said in their lawsuit that the DEP and Board of Environmental Protection, which provides oversight of the DEP, are responsible for implementing Maine’s Climate Law that requires greenhouse gas emissions to be cut at least 45% from 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050.

The environmentalists have asked the court to order the board to adopt rules that comply with the state’s climate law, with a priority for transportation on or before Nov. 1. They asked the court to order the agency to adopt EV rules or an alternative rule by the same date. That date is one month before the Dec. 1 deadline for the Maine Climate Council to update the state climate plan.

This story will be updated.

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Lawmakers advance bill to provide death benefits after two DOT workers killed on the job

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Lawmakers advance bill to provide death benefits after two DOT workers killed on the job


After a fatal car crash in Waterville killed two Maine Department of Transportation employees in January, state lawmakers are backing a bill to expand death benefits to the families of DOT workers killed on the job.  The Labor Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to advance LD 669, which will make DOT employees eligible for the same […]



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Maine man accused of lighting bed on fire after fight with girlfriend

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Maine man accused of lighting bed on fire after fight with girlfriend


WISCASSET, Maine (WMTW) – A Maine man has been arrested after police say he intentionally set a bed on fire after a dispute with his girlfriend, while they were still in it.

Police responded Monday, March 9, to a report of a fire that had been intentionally set inside a home on Beechnut Hill Road, according to the Wiscasset Police Department.

Investigators say the homeowner, Terry Couture, 41, set the bed on fire following an argument while both he and his girlfriend were in it. Authorities said the fire was extinguished and no serious injuries were reported.

Couture was arrested and charged with attempted murder, arson, aggravated criminal mischief, and domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.

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The investigation is ongoing.



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Celebrate Maine Maple Weekend at Williams Family Farm

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Celebrate Maine Maple Weekend at Williams Family Farm


CLIFTON, Maine (WABI) – Maine Maple Sunday is less than two weeks away, and the Williams Family Farm in Clifton is gearing up for one of the sweetest seasons yet.

A long stretch of frost and snow meant a late start this year, but the first boil of sap has finally run through the evaporator, and maple season is officially underway.

At Williams Family Farm, everything is done by hand:

  • Fresh maple syrup, bottled on-site
  • Maple sugar, carefully extracted in small batches
  • Baked candied pecans, cashews, and more

The Williams family has spent years working with whatever weather sends their way.

Long winters, surprise warmups, and everything in between—they’ve learned how to adapt so community members can enjoy their products.

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As co-owner John Williams explains, the key is in the temperature.

“You need to have it warm during the day and still freezing at night, so typically that’s the middle of February,” said Williams. “We have a lot of trees, so we have to start tapping them before the conditions are ideal, so we start tapping way before it’s time for it to run just so we can get them all tapped. If you have ten trees in your backyard, you want to wait until roughly now, the middle of February to now, and when it’s actually running and put them in then because you can put all your taps in, in one day.”

They’re excited to welcome the community during Maine Maple Weekend on March 21 and 22.

They will be boiling up sap, hosting demonstrations, and providing free samples.

Locals can also join them for their third annual pancake breakfast where all proceeds are donated to Holbrook Recreation.

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Follow the link to find out their hours for March and more.



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