PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Rain and snowfall is up 28 percent in New England since the 1970s, according to a new Environment Maine report.
The environmental advocacy organization gathered on the Maine State Pier Tuesday to explain the report's findings, which examines climate change over five generations.
To illustrate the scope of these findings, Environment Maine called on speakers from three different generations to give their perspective.
Many of them are worried about the future if the state doesn't curb greenhouse gas emissions.
"I don't think we necessarily have to wait for something to be so detrimental for us to sort of be proactive and take a stand against it," Lewiston City Councilor and Environment Maine member Kristen Cloutier said.
The group points to a NOAA study that documented a five inch rise in Casco Bay between 2009 and 2010, saying this could cause increased flooding in the areas along the water. Experts have said a slowing of the gulf stream and weather patterns contributed to the jump in 2009 and 2010 when the results were recorded, adding that the levels have dropped below that in the following years, but are expected to keep rising in the future.
Environment Maine is asking lawmakers to support the EPA's Clean Power Plan, which is aimed at limiting carbon emissions from power plants. The group is also pushing for growth of renewable energy in Maine, such as solar and wind power.
"We've seen in the U.S. just all of this support and subsidy for the fossil fuel industry, and I really think it's time to move forward with clean and renewable energy sources," Laura Dorle, campaign organizer of Environment Maine said.
Opponents of the Clean Power Plan said it puts too much regulation on companies in the energy industry, and that it could lead to increases in power costs.
