Rising temperatures closing in on Paris climate agreement limit, UN report finds

ASSOCIATED PRESS • September 9, 2020

The world is getting closer to passing a temperature limit set by global leaders five years ago and may exceed it in the next decade or so, according to a new United Nations report. In the next five years, the world has nearly a 1-in-4 chance of experiencing a year that’s hot enough to put the global temperature at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. A 2018 U.N. science report said a world hotter than that still survives, but chances of dangerous problems increase tremendously. The report comes on the heels of a weekend of weather gone wild around the U.S.: Scorching heat, record California wildfires and two more Atlantic storms that set records for earliest 16th and 17th named storms.

How Maine deer hunters can hone their skills before the season starts

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 9, 2020

If you’re among those who just can’t wait to get back into the woods trying to fill your deer tag, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has you covered. The department is rolling out a series of online panel discussions aimed at deer hunters, with the first of those sessions — Scouting for Your Deer Hunt — set for 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Opinion: Environmental impact study needed for Hydro-Quebec’s reservoir dams

SUN JOURNAL • September 8, 2020

Although studies may have proven heat pollution from mega hydro dams is warming downstream water and regional climates, the public has little or no knowledge of this. Hydro-Quebec continues to have the audacity to refer to its electricity as “green energy.” What has, up until now, remained hidden, is Hydro-Quebec’s admission as far back as 1976 that its James Bay project would not work without the heat pollution from its mega reservoirs. Hopefully, members of the Say No to NECEC group and others will be successful in challenging Maine’s DEP permit for the transmission corridor and lead to a long overdue environmental impact study on heat pollution from Hydro-Quebec’s hydroelectric reservoir dams. ~ Stephen Kasprzak, Rangeley, author of “Blue Deserts”

Column: This is the secret pro-birders use to identify hawks from far away

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 9, 2020

Expert hawk-watchers can identify a raptor on the horizon that’s no bigger than a speck of dust. It’s annoying. It makes us mere mortals feel inadequate. The experts can, of course, explain all the tips they are using to make the identification, but that’s not their big secret. Their secret is this: they’ve seen thousands and thousands of hawks. Practice. ~ Bob Duchesne

Northern Aroostook County drought improves as conditions worsen in elsewhere in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 9, 2020

The Crown of Maine has been reduced to moderate drought status while other parts of Aroostook County and the state go into their ninth week of severe drought. While the Maine Drought Task Force is monitoring the worsening situation throughout most of Maine, recent rains allowed the Crown of Maine — mainly the St. John Valley and part of Washington County — to drop from a severe to a moderate drought status. Experts say the moisture didn’t come soon enough to help blueberries, potatoes or hay crops. 

Letter: Congress needs to take action on Climate Action Plan

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 9, 2020

The pandemic brought me, like many friends and colleagues, back to Maine. I have had the privilege of finding recreation and solace outdoors: distanced hikes in the White Mountains with friends, picnics on the Promenade, and long days at the beach. It is critical that we protect these public lands, and the recent U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis report offers a roadmap of policies to achieve this urgently needed goal. These policies encourage innovation for systemic change in energy, agriculture and environmental justice at a national and global level. I urge Sen. Angus King and our members of Congress to take swift and decisive action that supports the Climate Action Plan. ~ Laura Bither, Freeport

Retired BDN editor pawns stuffed duck, nearly becomes an accidental felon

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 9, 2020

Rick Levasseur, who retired last year from the BDN, was walking down the 11th fairway of a local golf course a couple weeks back, when his cellphone rang. Warden Kevin Anderson “asked if I had ever sold a stuffed duck to [a local] pawn shop.” “When I said yes, he told me it was against both state and federal law and considered a felony to sell or trade migratory birds. It is legal to sell a stuffed bear, deer head and several other animals but not migratory birds.” Levasseur drove to the pawn shop and “gave him his money back, since he shouldn’t pay for my mistake.” The pawnbroker is waiting for the warden to come take the duck and donate it to a museum. Levasseur decided to share his story, hoping he could help someone else avoid making the same kind of mistake.

Letter: Where will the industrial wind development end?

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 9, 2020

I drive the Airline back and forth to camp and other Down East adventures, and have always treasured the stretch between Aurora and T28. Now the scenery is upstaged by gargantuan wind turbines looming over Route 9, ominously distracting with their huge blades. Why did the developers and permitters have to site the northernmost turbines of the Weaver Wind project so close along this uniquely scenic stretch of Route 9? Another of Hancock County’s treasures has been sacrificed to industrial wind. I am for green energy, in its place. Turbines of that scale should be set back a respectful distance from any highway, especially near this winding, scenic stretch traveled by passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. Where will it end — Katahdin? ~ Jane Crosen Washburn, Penobscot

Letter: Worried about plastic bag use

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 10, 2020

I find it alarming that single-use plastic bags are making a comeback, due to the coronavirus. To avoid having my groceries packed into plastic bags again, I found an easy solution. I ask the bagger at the cash register to just return the items into my cart again, without bagging them. My shopping basket and a freezer bag are in the back of my car, and I put everything I bought into them, returning the empty cart as usual. Hardly any work, same safety and no more single-use plastic bags. ~ Karin Anderson, Portland

Summer melts regional heat records

E&E NEWS • September 8, 2020

Record temperatures across New England this summer have sparked wildfires, withered crops and prompted a string of water restrictions in many communities. Portland and Caribou in Maine and Burlington, Vt., broke records for the hottest summer while Concord, N.H., had its hottest summer in 144 years, said Michael Clair from the National Weather Service in Maine. "We had long stretches of temperatures above average that just added up to the hottest summer on record in many locations," Clair said. "A lot of it was driven by the overnight lows. We had a lot of warm nights."

Injured rock climber airlifted off Bald Mountain

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 8, 2020

A rock climber from San Diego was airlifted off a mountain in western Maine on Tuesday afternoon after she fell and suffered a severe head injury. Shannon Ashley Power, 28, was climbing in an area known as Shagg Crag on Bald Mountain in Woodstock when she fell about 15 feet, was caught by her safety rope, swung into the rock face and hit her head. She was not wearing a helmet.

Survey respondents favor small park in downtown Hallowell but some aren’t convinced

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • September 8, 2020

Respondents to a survey say they would like a park to take over a parking lot in downtown Hallowell, though some are still concerned about parking. Of the 283 respondents, about 37% favored using the entire lot as a park, with about 24% favoring using half of the lot for a park and half for parking. About 12% favored the smaller size of the temporary park that was at the location.

Trump expands ban on new offshore drilling sites in Atlantic

ASSOCIATED PRESS • September 8, 2020

President Trump expanded a ban on new offshore drilling Tuesday, an election-year reversal likely to appeal to voters in coastal states. Two years ago, he had taken steps to vastly expand offshore drilling from coast to coast. Trump used the event to portray himself as an environmental steward. But the Trump administration has overturned or weakened numerous regulations meant to protect air and water quality and lands essential for imperiled species.

Judge hears arguments to dismiss class-action lawsuit against CMP

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 8, 2020

A protracted attempt by a group of five Central Maine Power customers to file a class-action lawsuit against the utility and its parent companies should be dismissed, lawyers for CMP argued Tuesday in U.S. District Court, because a process to dispute inaccurate bills already is in place at the Maine Public Utilities Commission. That process, however, hasn’t gotten at the root causes of why each of the customers had higher-than-expected electric bills, lawyers for the customers told Chief Judge Jon D. Levy, which is why the lawsuit should go forward. Attorney Sumner Lipman estimated that a total of 300,000 customers may have been overcharged as much as $200 million. 

Island Institute to Lead Marine Economy Project

FREE PRESS • September 8, 2020

Funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Maine Technology Institute and FocusMaine recently awarded the Island Institute a three-year, $300,000 contract to serve as program director for SEAMaine, Maine’s Marine Economy Roadmap/Workforce Development Project, a $2 million project to help the state develop an industry-led roadmap and action plan for growth and greater resiliency in Maine’s marine economy. In 2016, the marine living-resource sector in Maine employed 15,583 workers.

USDA Approves Maine Hemp Production Plans

FREE PRESS • September 8, 2020

The United States Department of Agriculture recently approved Maine’s hemp production plans. With the approval, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry assumes primary regulatory responsibility for hemp production within its jurisdiction, under the oversight of the USDA Domestic Hemp Production Program. Maine’s hemp program began in 2016 with one grower who harvested seed from less than an acre. Today, the program includes 110 outdoor licenses and 362 licensed acres of planted hemp and seven indoor grower licenses, with more than 22,700 licensed square feet planted. Hemp is grown in all of Maine’s 16 counties, and the varieties grown thrive in all parts of the state.

Baxter State Park offers many spectacular mountain hikes beside Katahdin

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 8, 2020

Each summer, hikers flock to Katahdin, the tallest mountain in Maine. It’s the most popular destination in Baxter State Park, and for good reason. But it may not always be the best hiking option for you. Maybe you aren’t ready for such an arduous climb. Maybe you don’t have the time for the full-day trek. Or maybe the Katahdin trailhead parking lots are full — something that happens a lot. Fortunately, there are many other spectacular mountains in the park to hike. Baxter is home to more than 220 miles of hiking trails. And believe me, they’re all wonderful.

Maine deer lottery signals start to fall hunts

ASSOCIATED PRESS • September 8, 2020

Maine’s annual deer permit drawing is scheduled for Friday, and it will be followed by some of the state’s fall hunting seasons. The deer lottery awards “any deer” permits, which allow hunters to harvest deer of either sex. A limited portion of the archery season begins the following day, and the firearms season begins on Nov. 2. The state’s fall wild turkey season begins Sept. 14 and runs to Nov. 7. The moose season begins Sept. 28 and lasts until Nov. 28. Maine’s bear hunt began on Aug. 31 and lasts until Nov. 28.

Maine economy could take 15 percent hit by 2050 without climate action, report finds

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 8, 2020

Maine’s economic output could decrease by 15 percent in the next 30 years if the state does not take action to address climate change, according to a new analysis prepared for the Maine Climate Council. The multi-faceted report from Eastern Research Group and Synapse Energy Economics is part of a nearly two-year process for the council convened by Gov. Janet Mills to develop a climate action plan. That plan will serve as a blueprint lawmakers can use to meet Maine’s energy goals, which include having a carbon-neutral economy by 2045 and getting 100 percent of electricity from renewable resources while cutting emissions by 80 percent by 2050.