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Maine
was recognized Wednesday by a national environmental advocacy group for the
state’s efforts to promote clean energy and conservation measures.
Maine was one of five states to receive a
"silver" ranking in Environment America’s report, "America’s
Clean Energy Stars: State Actions Leading America to a New Energy
Future." The report graded states on policies to increase renewable
energy, save energy and require cleaner and more efficient cars.
The four other states were Massachusetts,
Vermont, Maryland
and Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, seven states — California, Connecticut, New Jersey,
New York, Oregon,
Rhode Island and Washington — received gold stars from
Environment America for adopting strong policies in at least four areas
related to energy.
Nine states, including New
Hampshire, were named "rising stars" by
the group, which used the report to call on Congress to pass a stringent
energy bill to encourage conservation and renewable energy.
"It shows that Maine’s state leaders
have started the effort, … but there are definitely areas where Maine can do
better," said Piper Crowell, field associate for Environment Maine.
Crowell said Maine
could improve by enacting stronger energy standards for appliances and energy
conservation codes for buildings.
Crowell was joined Wednesday in Augusta
by Gov. John Baldacci and legislative leaders during a ceremony to present
the silver star award. Baldacci cited Maine’s
policies of purchasing 100 percent of state government’s electricity from
renewable sources and participation in a multistate compact to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions as proof of the state’s commitment to energy issues.
But Democrat Baldacci joined Environment America as well as Maine’s two Republican
senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, in calling for strong national
policies on energy.
"For too long, we’ve been without a national energy strategy, and we
are paying the price when we fill our gas tanks or pay our home heating oil
bills," Baldacci said in a statement. "With the price of gas likely
to continue to increase and people worried about staying warm this winter, we
can’t be satisfied with inaction in Washington."
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