Sen. Vitelli earns perfect score for voting record on environment and natural resources
AUGUSTA – Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, earned a perfect score from the Maine Conservation Voters for her votes this session to preserve Maine’s natural resources, promote energy independence and protect the public from harmful chemicals. Sen. Vitelli was one of 17 state senators to earn a perfect score on the 2021 Environmental Scorecard, which tracks how lawmakers voted on seven key proposals debated by the Maine Legislature this past year. Sen. Vitelli also holds a lifetime score of 100 percent from Maine Conservation Voters.
“I’m proud of the work the Legislature accomplished this year to protect and preserve our environment,” said Sen. Vitelli. “Mainers rely on our natural resources for a lot, and we can’t afford to take it for granted. Investments in renewable energy and in cleaning up and mitigating the damage already done to our environment will be critical if we want to continue enjoying all that Maine’s natural wonders have to offer in the years to come.”
Sen. Vitelli 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. As a member of the Legislature’s Energy, Utility and Technology Committee, many of Sen. Vitelli’s efforts have focused on transitioning Maine to more renewable energy sources in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.
In the 129th Legislature, Sen. Vitelli sponsored legislation to invest in clean-energy jobs and increase Maine’s use of renewable energy sources to 80% by 2030 and a full 100% by 2050. Sen. Vitelli supplemented this effort by sponsoring a law this past session that advances energy storage in Maine. Energy storage is a key component to building a reliable, modern grid that optimizes energy derived from renewable, intermittent sources like wind and solar.
Other initiatives Sen. Vitelli supported this year include a landmark investment in the Land for Maine’s Future program, a popular program that leverages public-private partnerships to preserve and protect Maine’s natural resources and public lands. Sen. Vitelli 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 Bowdoinham, to investigate for PFAS contamination. These towns have high-risk sites where sludge, septic tank sewage and industrial waste was used as fertilizer, indicating potential PFAS contamination.
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.
