Sen. Bellows earns high marks for voting record on environment

Maine Conservation Voters’ Annual Environmental Scorecard Highlights Champions for Maine’s Environment

Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, earned a perfect score from the Maine Conservation Voters for her votes to preserve Maine’s rich natural resources, invest in clean, renewable energy and protect the public from harmful chemicals. This 2020 Environmental Scorecard, released last week, highlighted Sen. Bellows for receiving a score of 100 percent in the 129th legislative session.

“In Maine, our way of life — both economically and recreationally — is tied to a clean environment,” said Sen. Bellows. “We’re already seeing the effects of the climate crisis here, so doing everything we can to implement good public policy to slow and reverse that trend is vitally important, and I’m proud that my voting record reflects that priority.”

Sen. Bellows has a long history of supporting initiatives to promote, protect and preserve Maine’s environment and serves on the Manchester Conservation Commission. On Friday as a member of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Bellows voted to extend the statute of limitations for landowners and municipalities to bring lawsuits against parties responsible for contamination with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”

The Environmental Scorecard, released last week, tracks how each member of the Maine Legislature votes on key environmental issues in an effort to hold elected officials accountable. Sen. Bellows, who has a lifetime pro-environmental voting record of 100 percent, is a proven champion for Maine’s environment. 

“The unprecedented circumstances of 2020 have forced us all to reconsider many aspects of our lives and our society. Throughout it all, MCV is grateful for the leadership of lawmakers who are voting to accelerate Maine’s transition to a clean energy economy and deliver the environmental and public health results that communities across our state want and deserve,” said Beth Ahearn, Director of Government Affairs at MCV. 

The Maine Conservation Voters scored six key initiatives debated by the legislature this year, including the Land for Maine’s Future Bond, which was the only initiative proposal that didn’t pass. All 21 Senate Democrats received perfect scores for their environmental record. MCV’s Scorecard can be viewed online at www.maineconservation.org/scores.