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All Posts Tagged Tag: ‘Volume 1 No. 1’
Changes in Federal Environment Policy in the 1990s
Paul Keough has served as the Deputy Regional Administrator of the New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for nearly 10 years. Prior to joining the EPA in 1971, Keough served as press secretary first to a lieutenant governor and then to a senate president. He also worked as a newspaper reporter and hosted a radio talk …
Read MoreWater Management by Local Governments
While reauthorization of the federal Clean Water Act is taking center stage in water policy circles, local governments (defined here to include water and wastewater treatment districts) are not just waiting in the wings. Towns, cities and districts may be near the bottom of the pyramid of government institutions, but they ultimately determine the effectiveness of national water management programs. …
Read MoreUpcoming at the Regulatory Commissions…: Public Utilities Commission
As Rick Minard noted in his article in this issue of MPR, the pressures of declining governmental revenues are colliding with the public’s continuing concern for a better environment. As we go to press, Governor McKernan has proposed that several environmental initiatives, including local growth management and local dump closings, be suspended to help close the state’s continuing budget deficits. …
Read MoreThe Role of Public Utilities
The regulation of public utilities in Maine continues to evolve in response to changing economic, political and social forces. Not only has the structure of regulation of the electrical and telecommunications industry seen dramatic changes in the past twenty years, but it also is certain the next decade will see equally fundamental changes. Maine Policy Review invited three key participants …
Read MoreThe Changing Role of Regulation in the Telecommunications Industry
The regulation of public utilities in Maine continues to evolve in response to changing economic, political and social forces. Not only has the structure of regulation of the electrical and telecommunications industry seen dramatic changes in the past twenty years, but it also is certain the next decade will see equally fundamental changes. Maine Policy Review invited three key participants …
Read MoreResponse: Real World Energy Policy
Silkman and Flumerfelt note that Maine energy policy “has been driven by two objectives: (1) a reduction in our state’s dependence on oil and other non-renewable energy resources, and (2) a reduction in our overall consumption of energy through energy conservation programs,incentives, and other initiatives.” Just as the state at large has greatly reduced its reliance on oil, so has …
Read MoreResponse: Market Failure Requires Aggressive Action
The global environment is being subjected to unprecedented assault from production, distribution and consumption of energy, particularly fossil fuels. Air pollutants threaten human health and the environment; the emission of greenhouse gases is linked to climate change and the resulting extinction of species, increases in drought, and rising sea levels; nuclear power threatens health and safety. The challenge of the …
Read MoreResource Challenges for Local Governments: Matching municipal challenges and resources: Intergovernmental options
For most of the era since 1960, when environmental policy and resource policy have been central public issues, the focus of public debates on those policies was at the federal and state levels. But as we enter the last decade of the century, we find that more and more of the decisions and policies that will determine the quality of …
Read MoreResource Challenges for Local Governments: Resource challenges to municipal growth management
For most of the era since 1960, when environmental policy and resource policy have been central public issues, the focus of public debates on those policies was at the federal and state levels. But as we enter the last decade of the century, we find that more and more of the decisions and policies that will determine the quality of …
Read MoreResource Challenges for Local Governments: Our state’s transportation infrastructure: Can it support Maine’s way of life?
For most of the era since 1960, when environmental policy and resource policy have been central public issues, the focus of public debates on those policies was at the federal and state levels. But as we enter the last decade of the century, we find that more and more of the decisions and policies that will determine the quality of …
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