Sen. Diamond earns high score for voting record on environment and natural resources

AUGUSTA – Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, earned a high score from the Maine Conservation Voters for his votes this session to preserve Maine’s natural resources, promote energy independence and protect the public from harmful chemicals. Maine Conservation Voters 2021 Environmental Scorecard tracks how lawmakers voted on seven key proposals debated by the Maine Legislature this past year.

“Maine’s rich history of outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship makes this state the place we all know and love,” said Sen. Diamond. “Ensuring that our environment and natural resources remain healthy and bountiful will be critical to the success and well-being of Maine’s people and economy in the years to come. I’m honored to have received this score and proud of the work the Legislature accomplished this year.”

Sen. Diamond has a long history of supporting initiatives to promote, protect and preserve Maine’s environment, which supports the health and well-being of Maine people and the economy. This year, Sen. Diamond supported a landmark investment in the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program, led by Sen. Cathy Breen, D-Falmouth, Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee. LMF is a popular program that has successfully leveraged public-private partnerships to preserve and protect Maine’s natural resources and public lands for tourists and Mainers alike to enjoy. Sen. Diamond is a member of the Advisory Council for the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, which holds over 2,000 acres of conserved lands and 18 free public access preserves in the Windham, Standish, Gorham, Gray and Westbrook area.

Sen. Diamond also supported a measure to address PFAS contamination around the state by providing additional funding and staffing. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection recently identified 34 priority towns, including the area of south Windham, to investigate for PFAS contamination. These towns have high-risk sites where sludge, septic tank sewage and industrial waste were used as fertilizer, indicating potential PFAS contamination. These so-called “forever chemicals” are linked to a number of bad health outcomes, including increased risk of some cancers, increased cholesterol levels, and increased risks to infants and pregnant women.

MCV is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting Maine’s environment and democracy. MCV’s Scorecard can be viewed online at www.maineconservation.org/scores.