The Sierra Club Maine Chapter, a grassroots non-partisan climate and environmental protection organization has named Pete Nichols as its new director.

Nichols, a Maine native, has served as the executive director of Edgecomb-based Midcoast Conservancy since 2021. Prior to that, Nichols worked as the international organizing director for Waterkeeper Alliance, an international network of 350 clean water advocates in 46 countries around the globe. Nichols also co-founded his own Waterkeeper program, Humboldt Baykeeper, where he served as baykeeper and executive director.  

Sue Levene, Sierra Club Maine’s  volunteer chair, shares that Pete “brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Chapter director role. We are looking forward to growing our impact and ability to advocate for environmental and climate justice with his leadership and enthusiasm.”

“I am excited to join this impactful team with the Maine Chapter of Sierra Club,” Nichols said. “We are at a critical time for Maine’s environment and I look forward to working with the communities around the state to address the impacts of climate change, protect our wildlands and waters, and support legislation and policies to safeguard our environment for generations to come,” he continued.

Originally inspired by the lakes, rivers, and coastal waters of his childhood home of Maine, Nichols has always been a committed advocate for the environment. For nearly 30 years, Pete has worked to protect the world’s waters and wildlands from the redwood forests of northern California, to the majestic Tigris River in Iraq, and the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. Nichols obtained a B.S. in conservation biology from Humboldt State University in northern California.