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Maine Policy Review

Journal

2008

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Articles 1 - 23 of 23

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“These Very Impelling Reasons Against My Running”: Maine Women And Politics, Mary Cathcart Jan 2008

“These Very Impelling Reasons Against My Running”: Maine Women And Politics, Mary Cathcart

Maine Policy Review

In the Margaret Chase Smith Essay Mary Cathcart reflects on women in politics and describes her own trajectory in coming to serve in the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate. She discusses the upcoming (2009) launch of the Maine NEW Leadership program at the University of Maine, a national education program for college women


Confronting Global Warming: Maine’S Multi-Sector Initiatives, 2003–2008, David P. Littell, Gary S. Westerman, Malcolm C. Burson Jan 2008

Confronting Global Warming: Maine’S Multi-Sector Initiatives, 2003–2008, David P. Littell, Gary S. Westerman, Malcolm C. Burson

Maine Policy Review

David Littell, Gary Westerman and Malcolm Burson describe Maine’s pioneering efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy efficiency, and developing less carbon-intensive and more sustainable energy sources. They discuss in particular the goals and accomplishments of the state’s Climate Action Plan and Maine’s participation in several multi-state and regional efforts, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).


Efficiency Maine: Investing In Energy Savings And Knowledge, Tim Vrabel Jan 2008

Efficiency Maine: Investing In Energy Savings And Knowledge, Tim Vrabel

Maine Policy Review

Tim Vrabel provides an overview of Efficiency Maine, which has programs for business and residential users, technical training, and commercial and agricultural energy auditing.


Introduction: Ask Not… Voices From Maine Addressing Climate Change And Energy, Sam Townsend Jan 2008

Introduction: Ask Not… Voices From Maine Addressing Climate Change And Energy, Sam Townsend

Maine Policy Review

No abstract provided.


The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: What It Means For Maine, Sondra Bogdonoff Jan 2008

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: What It Means For Maine, Sondra Bogdonoff

Maine Policy Review

The federal government has been slow to act on curbing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and on reducing dependence on petroleum and other fossil fuels. In the absence of federal leadership, Maine and other states have enacted policies and practices to try to address these issues. Sondra Bogdonoff’s article discusses the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), in which Maine participates, the first regional program in the U.S. to address climate change. RGGI is a cap-and-trade system aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, which are “capped” at allowable levels. Power generators can buy and sell allowances. Under RGGI, …


Finding Grace And Hope In Community, Martha Kirkpatrick Jan 2008

Finding Grace And Hope In Community, Martha Kirkpatrick

Maine Policy Review

Martha Kirkpatrick urges readers to focus on sense of community in facing the challenges of scarce energy and fuel sources, unstable prices, and the increasing environmental havoc brought about by human activity. She reminds readers that Mainers are resilient and resourceful, and that a strong sense of community remains in many places that should be nurtured and supported by state government.


The Parents As Scholars Program: A Maine Success Story, Sandra S. Butler, Luisa S. Deprez Jan 2008

The Parents As Scholars Program: A Maine Success Story, Sandra S. Butler, Luisa S. Deprez

Maine Policy Review

Federal “welfare reform” enacted in 1996 strongly discouraged states from including post-secondary education in their welfare reform programs. As Sandra Butler and Luisa Deprez discuss here, Maine persevered through its Parent as Scholars (PaS) program to make college possible for low-income parents. In this article they report on their long-term follow-up of a cohort of PaS participants, all of them women, who have benefited greatly from participation in the program. Butler and Deprez note that Maine’s PaS improves welfare recipients’ chances of moving out of poverty. The program itself remains as a model for other states.


The Role Of Language Education In Maine’S Global Economy, Laura Lindenfeld, Gisela Hoecherl-Alden Jan 2008

The Role Of Language Education In Maine’S Global Economy, Laura Lindenfeld, Gisela Hoecherl-Alden

Maine Policy Review

No abstract provided.


A Revolutionary Model To Improve Science Education, Teachers, And Scientists, Susan H. Brawley, Judith Pusey, Barbara J.W. Cole, Lauree E. Gott, Stephen A. Norton Jan 2008

A Revolutionary Model To Improve Science Education, Teachers, And Scientists, Susan H. Brawley, Judith Pusey, Barbara J.W. Cole, Lauree E. Gott, Stephen A. Norton

Maine Policy Review

To meet many modern global challenges, we need to promote scientific and technical literacy. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) supports a “revolutionary” program to connect science education at all levels, from elementary through graduate school. The authors demonstrate how Maine has benefited from this program. They describe the University of Maine’s NSF-funded “GK-12 STEM” program, which placed graduate and advanced undergraduate science and technology students in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms; provided equipment for the schools; and offered training and professional development for the partner teachers. The authors urge the state, universities, and school districts to continue to …


High School Achievement In Maine: Where You Come From Matters More Than School Size And Expenditures, Fern Desjardins, Gordon A. Donaldson Jr. Jan 2008

High School Achievement In Maine: Where You Come From Matters More Than School Size And Expenditures, Fern Desjardins, Gordon A. Donaldson Jr.

Maine Policy Review

Fern Desjardins and Gordon Donaldson report on their research examining the relationship between academic achievement in Maine’s public high schools and school size, per-pupil operating costs, and socioeconomic status. Using aggregated Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) scores, their study confirmed previous research that socioeconomic status (using both family and community measures) is the most important factor associated with achievement, while school size is not a critical factor. Additionally, the authors found that per-pupil operating costs are higher in the state’s largest and smallest high schools. The authors suggest that the creation of larger districts and larger schools, as supported by recent …


Improving The Health Of Maine, One Employee At A Time, Jerry Whalen Jan 2008

Improving The Health Of Maine, One Employee At A Time, Jerry Whalen

Maine Policy Review

In this commentary, Jerry Whalen, an officer in Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, discusses employee wellness programs and the importance of focusing on the workplace. He notes that managers and senior executives have a key role to play in ensuring success of employee wellness programs


National Board-Certified Teachers: Can They Make A Difference In Maine Schools?, Sarah V. Mackenzie, Walter J. Harris Jan 2008

National Board-Certified Teachers: Can They Make A Difference In Maine Schools?, Sarah V. Mackenzie, Walter J. Harris

Maine Policy Review

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was created in an effort to improve the status of teaching as a career. In 2006, the Maine legislature authorized a salary supplement for Maine teachers who were certified by the NBPTS. Sarah Mackenzie and Walter Harris describe their study focused on the value of NBPTS certification in professional development and teacher leadership; teacher motivation for seeking certification; barriers to certification; and how Maine teachers might be encouraged to seek certification. They point out that National Board certification is one among many ways to support and improve the quality of teaching in …


Table Of Contents Jan 2008

Table Of Contents

Maine Policy Review

No abstract provided.


Challenging Climate Change, Olympia J. Snowe Jan 2008

Challenging Climate Change, Olympia J. Snowe

Maine Policy Review

No abstract provided.


What We Can Expect From The Federal Government To Address Climate Change And Energy Independence, Adam Cote Jan 2008

What We Can Expect From The Federal Government To Address Climate Change And Energy Independence, Adam Cote

Maine Policy Review

Adam Cote highlights major federal energy and climate initiatives that the new administration and Congress are likely to try to enact. Many of these initiatives could be important for Maine, particularly policies and funding that promote clean energy, energy efficiency, conservation, and “green-collar” jobs.


The Energy Challenge–Gone Today, Back Tomorrow: Maine’S Key Role, William H. Hastings Jan 2008

The Energy Challenge–Gone Today, Back Tomorrow: Maine’S Key Role, William H. Hastings

Maine Policy Review

World energy trends suggest that increased demand for fossil fuels is likely to continue, even as producers are not replacing what is being used. William Hastings argues that in spite of this, Maine is poised to potentially become an energy leader in the near future. He points out that a surprising number of new projects are increasing the diversity of the state’s energy supply.


Tapping The Potential Of Energy Efficiency To Create Greater Economic Security For Maine, Dylan Voorhees Jan 2008

Tapping The Potential Of Energy Efficiency To Create Greater Economic Security For Maine, Dylan Voorhees

Maine Policy Review

Energy efficiency is cheaper than any current sources of power or fuel. Maine has started to develop some energy-efficiency programs such as Efficiency Maine and MaineHousing’s weatherization efforts, but the state lags behind other states in the region. Dylan Voorhees addresses barriers that Maine needs to overcome in order to tap its energy-efficiency potential. He suggests an expanded strategy, including planning for the long term, leveraging private investments and taking advantage of the private sector, extending efficiency programs to all fuels, and consolidating current energy-efficiency planning and budgeting


Bioenergy And The Forest Products Industry In The Atlantica Region, Thor Olesen Jan 2008

Bioenergy And The Forest Products Industry In The Atlantica Region, Thor Olesen

Maine Policy Review

Wood has been in use for centuries as an energy source and holds potential for new and innovative uses, ranging from pellets for residential and commercial heating to the creation of liquid biofuels (cellulosic ethanol and diesel) and new types of clean-burning solid products. Based on a recently completed study, Thor Oleson’s article analyzes the prospects for bioenergy development in the Atlantica region (Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia).


Tidal Energy Development, John Ferland Jan 2008

Tidal Energy Development, John Ferland

Maine Policy Review

John Ferland discusses tidal power, an energy source that holds great future potential for Maine. He notes that a new technology, tidal in-stream energy conversion (TISEC) is reliable, predictable, and projected to be as cost-effective as any other means for producing electricity.


Poland Spring Bottling/ Nwna ’S Efforts To Reduce Energy Use And Cut Back On Carbon Dioxide, Ronald Dyer Jan 2008

Poland Spring Bottling/ Nwna ’S Efforts To Reduce Energy Use And Cut Back On Carbon Dioxide, Ronald Dyer

Maine Policy Review

No abstract provided.


Transportation And Climate Change, Jonathan Rubin Jan 2008

Transportation And Climate Change, Jonathan Rubin

Maine Policy Review

The transportation and residential sectors in Maine use a large proportion of fossil fuels, primarily petroleum products, and are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Jonathan Rubin’s article on transportation reviews mechanisms by which petroleum demand and greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced, emphasizing state and federal legislation to achieve these goals. He describes ways in which transportation systems will be affected by and have to adapt to climate change.


What One Municipality Has Accomplished: The City Of Saco And Its Energy Committee, Travis Peaslee Jan 2008

What One Municipality Has Accomplished: The City Of Saco And Its Energy Committee, Travis Peaslee

Maine Policy Review

Travis Peaslee describes the comprehensive efforts of the city of Saco, Maine to reduce energy consumption, increase efficiency, and use new energy sources.


Understanding The Global Energy Industry Is Key To Meeting Maine’S Energy Challenge, Elizabeth A. Wilson Jan 2008

Understanding The Global Energy Industry Is Key To Meeting Maine’S Energy Challenge, Elizabeth A. Wilson

Maine Policy Review

Dependence on petroleum has global consequences with regard to supply constraints, energy security, and economic impacts, along with major consequences for climate change and other environmental problems. Maine is at a particular disadvantage due to its reliance on home heating oil and transportation fuels in this rural state. In this article, Elizabeth Wilson analyzes the global petroleum industry and the challenges and solutions ahead for the U.S. and Maine as we seek to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and develop other cleaner and cost-effective energy sources.