Environmentalists split in their opposition to New England’s latest power transmission line

HARTFORD (CT) COURANT • September 23, 2020

Environmentalists in New England are less than unanimous in their opposition to the latest transmission power line project. Avangrid is seeking what could be final approvals to build a $950 million, 145-mile transmission line in western Maine, delivering hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts and New England’s power grid. The Sierra Club, Natural Resources Council of Maine and other groups oppose the project, arguing it would disrupt animal habitats and wetlands in the Northern Appalachian and Acadian forests. But Greg Cunningham of the Conservation Law Foundation said the Avangrid project’s 1,200 megawatts will contribute to shutting some of the “worst polluting coal and oil generators” in New England.

Maine hiker shares her Appalachian Trail adventure in new children’s book

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 23, 2020

“Black Bear’s Adventure” is chronological, starting with Emily Leonard’s decision to hike the Appalachian Trail and ending with the day she completed the arduous trek atop Maine’s tallest mountain, Katahdin. It introduces children to the Appalachian Trail and the activities of hiking and camping, while instilling valuable lessons about outdoor exploration and achieving goals.

Kingfield residents vote to accept Shiloh Pond, guaranteeing public access to 215 acres of woods and waters

WCSH-TV5 • September 23, 2020

The Town of Kingfield held a historic vote Tuesday to accept the Shiloh Pond parcel in a landslide vote of 119-64. 215 acres will now be gifted to the town, protecting public access to the land and water for generations to come. The High Peaks Alliance, a western Maine land conservation group, has been working to raise money to buy the land and pond ever since they became aware the family that has owned it for years decided to sell. Like many parts of the Maine woods, the private owners have always allowed public access. But once it was placed on the market, future access to this prized brook trout pond, and the acreage around it, was no longer a given.

Maine Trails Coalition

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • September 23, 2020

The Maine Trails Coalition (MTC) was formed in 2019 to be a statewide voice for trail users, supporters, and advocates. With trails serving as a major component of the outdoor recreation economy in Maine, we believe a statewide group dedicated to advancing the trails movement will benefit the communities and people who live, work, visit, and play all across the state. 

Local farm program grows to include seedlings along with produce

FORECASTER • September 23, 2020

Local farmers and food distribution nonprofits have put a new twist on the practice of distributing produce to the needy, adding seedlings to give people a chance to grow their own food. “The farmers in this area are an amazing group of people,” said Jamison Pacheco, programs director at the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, one of the nonprofits helping to distribute 2,000 seedlings from area farms.

These fall foliage hikes lead to some of the best displays of color Maine has to offer

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 22, 2020

The following are a few Maine hiking trails that feature trees, bushes and other plants that display some of the brightest fall colors, making them great locations for leaf peeping.
• McPhetres Farm Forest in Veazie
• Bald Bluff Mountain in Amherst
• Mount Pisgah in Winthrop
• Davidson Nature Preserve in Vassalboro
• North Traveler Mountain in Baxter State Park
• Pleasant Pond Mountain near Caratunk
• Ferry Beach State Park in Saco
• Bald Rock Mountain in Lincolnville
• Rumford Whitecap Mountain in Rumford

Column: Wildfires, desperation, self-destruction

MORNING SENTINEL • September 23, 2020

Something can be done about the conditions that are leading to the wildfires out West. Not magically wiped away, but alleviated. But what can I say to those who seem intent on self-destruction in place of even admitting climate change is happening? Barely listening to the mounting heat, drought, extreme weather, rising seas and fires. Here in 2020, I don’t know what facts, questions, acknowledgments of anger, or reassurances to make, to deter us from driving headlong into self-destruction by climate change. I don’t know. Vote. Please. ~ Dana Wilde

Opinion: We still need to reduce, reuse and recycle during a pandemic

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 23, 2020

As we have learned more about how COVID-19 is transmitted, we have learned that proper personal protective equipment and physical distancing will keep waste and recycling handling safe. Making the minor adjustments recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in our recycling programs is worth the effort to protect our environment and contribute to our economy. So please, do your part to reduce, reuse and recycle. ~ Jessica Haviland, Maine Resource Recovery Association

Audubon survey aims to point out Portland’s clear and present danger to birds

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 23, 2020

For the past 16 days, Maine Audubon staff, volunteers and a professor and students from the University of Southern Maine have found 13 dead or impaired migrating birds directly beside buildings. The survey will continue every day until mid-October, the end of the migration season. As many as 365 million to 988 million birds are killed annually in the United States when they inadvertently fly into building glass, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The first-time survey in Portland is taking place during the fall migration, when millions of birds are heading to South America for the winter. It will be repeated in the spring, when the birds return.

Column Elect legislators who will work together

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • September 23, 2020

After a lifetime as a Republican, I switched parties to vote for my friends Janet Mills and Jared Golden in the Democratic primary. And after the primary, I didn’t return to the Republican Party because today our Republican president has repealed more than 100 environmental protections for everything from our rivers to our national parks. Shameful. When I was a Republican activist, we were the conservation leaders. Let’s hope we elect legislators in November who will return the Legislature to the good old days when it was fun to hang out in Augusta. ~ George Smith 

The Recycle Bin: More on glass

TIMES RECORD • September 22, 2020

At one time, Brunswick made money on recycling, but since the markets collapsed when China introduced their new policies on contamination, all towns have been paying for the service, and many have found the cost unbearable. Glass is 11% of our recyclables, very heavy to transport, difficult to handle, and has little residual value as a recycled commodity. For the past two years, our processor has not been recycling glass at all, but we’re being charged for it to be recycled. Finely crushed, it is an excellent substitute for sand. Our current processor, unfortunately, does not have the means to make better use of the material, so it goes into their landfill instead.

Answers to your questions about warming temperatures in the Gulf of Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 23, 2020

To share information about the effect warming temperatures in the Gulf of Maine are having on Maine communities and ecosystems, the Bangor Daily News hosted an online event on Sept. 17, bringing together four experts to share their work on the topic. During last week’s event, to which more than 150 people tuned in, people posed questions about the gulf’s rising temperatures to the panelists. Here are some of their biggest questions.

2 hunters shoot 500-pound bears on the same day, with the same outfitter

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 23, 2020

Every now and then, guide Don Burnett would hear of other outfitters bagging a 500-pounder, but the largest bear one of his hunters ever shot weighed about 350 pounds. That all changed on the opening night of this year’s bear season, as two of his hunters took 500-pounders within 15 minutes of each other, while hunting in stands about 6 miles apart.

South Portland council rejects tree-saving development moratorium

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 22, 2020

The idea of imposing a development moratorium to preserve dwindling green spaces drew overwhelming opposition Tuesday night from city councilors concerned that it might hurt desirable projects such as affordable housing. Mayor Kate Lewis summarized the will of the council during an online workshop, when six of seven councilors said they want to take steps to preserve open space and trees, but they don’t believe a moratorium is necessary to achieve that result.

Janet Mills calls approval of renewable energy projects ‘historic step forward’

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 22, 2020

Maine regulators approved 17 renewable energy project bids on Tuesday that Gov. Janet Mills called a first major step toward reaching goals of 80 percent renewable energy statewide by 2030 and emissions reductions of 80 percent by 2050. The Democratic governor signed legislation in July 2019 to help boost renewable energy in Maine, create clean energy jobs and fight climate change. The projects include solar, hydroelectric, biomass and wind energy. The project bidders will enter into 20-year contracts with either Central Maine Power or Versant Power.

Walton’s Mill dam removal, park improvements outlined in Farmington

LIVERMORE FALLS ADVERTISER • September 22, 2020

Farmington Selectmen on Tuesday evening were told design plans for improvements to Walton’s Mill Park Plan should be nearly complete in about two weeks, with a final plan ready in October. Voters approved the $1.2 million Walton’s Mill Dam project in November 2018, a year after a fish passage study was approved. The project will remove the dam so endangered Atlantic salmon can travel up Temple Stream to spawn.

China, top greenhouse gas emitter, aims to go carbon-neutral by 2060

ASSOCIATED PRESS • September 22, 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping says his country will aim to stop adding to the global warming problem by 2060. Xi’s announcement during a speech Tuesday to the U.N. General Assembly is a significant step for the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Calling for a “green revolution,” Xi said the pandemic had shown the need to preserve the environment. The term “carbon neutrality” means releasing no additional CO2 into the atmosphere, though technically it allows countries to keep emitting if they ensure that an equal amount is captured again in some form.

Auburn turns down road closure that would give city 270 acres for recreation

SUN JOURNAL • September 22, 2020

The city turned down a petition to close a section of Butler Hill Road after a landowner said he planned to put his 270 acres into conservation if the closure was approved. Aimee Dorval, executive director of the Androscoggin Land Trust, said granting the easement for public access, trails and recreation “would support the overall well-being of the Auburn community.” But the Auburn City Council voted 4-3 against the petition during a final reading Monday, with the majority of councilors arguing the road is an important shortcut between Minot and Auburn.

Advocates argue before judge that Maine’s voting laws place undue burden on some voters

MAINE BEACON (Maine People's Alliance) • September 22, 2020

Voting rights advocates challenged the constitutionality of Maine’s election system as it is being exercised under the current pandemic in a hearing before the Kennebec County Superior Court this week. President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has intervened in the case on behalf of the state, arguing that Maine doesn’t need to take additional steps to ensure voting access. “The Maine Constitution guarantees the right to vote safely,” said Zach Heiden, chief counsel of ACLU of Maine, which joined Maine Conservation Voters in filing an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs. “In the midst of a global pandemic and a management crisis at the U.S. Postal Service, the practices that have served this state so well in the past are no longer enough.”