One year later, U.S. climate law is already turbocharging clean energy technology

ASSOCIATED PRESS • July 24, 2023

On August 16, after the hottest June ever recorded and a scorching July, America’s long-sought response to climate change, the Inflation Reduction Act, turns one year old. In less than a year it has prompted investment in a massive buildout of battery and EV manufacturing across the states. Nearly 80 major clean energy manufacturing facilities have been announced, an investment equal to the previous seven years combined, according to the American Clean Power Association. The IRA is America’s most significant response to climate change, after decades of lobbying by oil, gas and coal interests stalled action, while carbon emissions climbed, creating a hotter, more dangerous world. It aims to build domestic supply chains to reverse China’s and other nations’ early domination.

New directions for Maine's aquaculture industry

MAINE PUBLIC • July 24, 2023

Aquaculture in Maine has a history of controversy, yet innovation and the use of ever-more sustainable solutions also run strong in this diverse industry. Learn about the focus on new species, methods for growing them, training programs, and other emerging trends. Panelists: Carissa Maurin, Gulf of Maine Research Institute; Sebastian Belle, Maine Aquaculture Association; Dana Morse, Maine Sea Grant. VIP Callers: Kohl Kanwit, Maine Department of Marine Resources; Matthew Nixon, Muddy River Farm Aquaponics; Jaclyn Robidoux, Maine Sea Grant; Struan Coleman, Vertical Bay sea farm.

Americans are moving toward climate danger in search of cheaper homes

BLOOMBERG • July 24, 2023

Many Americans are actually choosing to move to Zip codes with a high risk of experiencing wildfire, heat, drought and flood, according to a new study on domestic migration by Redfin, an online real estate brokerage firm. In fact, the nation’s most flood-prone counties experienced a net influx of about 400,000 people in 2021 and 2022. That represents a 103% increase from the two-year period before that. It’s not that people don’t care about climate dangers. Concerns about affordability are primary and dominate everything else.

How to get bats out of your house

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 24, 2023

Bats are one of the most common home invaders around the world, and while they’re usually harmless, they’re certainly not welcome — and for good reason. When bats roost in homes — usually in attics and other dry, warm places — they create a mess of droppings and pee that emits an unpleasant aroma. And if they manage to get into the living area of a home, there’s a concern they could carry rabies, a viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through a bite. So if you do find a bat or several in your home, what’s the best plan of action? One option is to call a professional, a pest-removal specialist who can evict the bats safely, efficiently and effectively. The other option is to get rid of the critters yourself.

Maine governor reaches offshore wind deal with labor unions

WASHINGTON POST • July 24, 2023

Maine Gov. Janet Mills has reached a compromise with labor unions on legislation to boost the state’s offshore wind industry, overcoming past disagreements that threatened to tank the measure. The deal comes as President Biden pitches offshore wind to union workers skeptical that it can deliver the same economic benefits as fossil fuels, especially in the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico. Mills last month vetoed a bill that required companies to use project labor agreements, or PLAs, when working on offshore wind ports. Rather than requiring PLAs, the measure would mandate a suite of labor standards for offshore wind development.

An expert explains how climate change is worsening wildfires in North America

MAINE PUBLIC • July 24, 2023

Michael Flannigan is an expert on forest fires and Canada's efforts to deal with them. A one-time meteorologist, Flanagan worked with the Canadian Forest Service. He currently studies wildland fires at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia. He spoke with Maine Public about the growing danger of wildfires in Canada and the U.S. from human-caused climate change.

Tick bites are sending more people in the Northeast to the emergency room this year

MAINE PUBLIC • July 24, 2023

The data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s online tick tracker shows that, in the Northeast, visits to the Emergency Department for tick bites are up more than 30% from last year. This means people enjoying the outdoors need to be vigilant, experts say. “The best way to avoid getting sick is to just avoid getting bit by a tick in the first place,” said Dr. Grace Marx, medical director with the CDC's Division of Vector-borne Diseases. “Being aware when ticks are active, and taking the right steps to prevent tick bites in the first place, is really the way to go.”

Millions of dollars in foreign campaign funds pour into Maine as lawmakers push for ban

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 24, 2023

As Maine lawmakers and Gov. Janet Mills battle over a proposed ban on foreign campaign spending, companies from Canada and Spain are pouring millions of dollars into the state to buy television and online ads opposing a public takeover of two U.S.-based electricity companies. Supporters of the public power campaign were outraged last week when Mills vetoed a bill to prevent foreign spending in state and local races. Lawmakers will return to Augusta on Tuesday and could attempt to override the veto. But even if they are successful, the ban on foreign influence would have no impact on this fall’s public utility referendum campaign.

Letter: Three cheers for three-in-one Maine wind bill

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 24, 2023

I was delighted to see your report on the Legislature’s endorsement of offshore wind-generated power . We’ve known that climate change is not going to wait for politics and may have significant impacts for coastal states. My thanks to Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-York, for pulling that all together. ~ James Tierney, Brownfield

All-time heat record broken in Maine, with more on the way soon

NEWS CENTER MAINE • July 23, 2023

We begin the last few days of July by breaking a record set back in 1988. For 25 consecutive days, the low temperature in the Portland area has been 60 degrees or more. That’s the first time that has happened since record-keeping began in 1940.

Open Farm Day brings people closer to the source of food and farm-made products across Maine

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 23, 2023

More than 100 farms across the state to welcome visitors on Maine Open Farm Day. The goal for the day is for Mainers to see where their food is grown or produced and to learn about how other products, like yarn or cheese, are made.

TimberHP holds ribbon-cutting at Madison mill to celebrate the start of production of wood insulation

MAINE PUBLIC • July 23, 2023

TimberHP, the first company in North America to offer wood fiber insulation, celebrated the start of production with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its headquarters in Madison Friday. The company will eventually make three forms of the insulation. Right now, renovations at the mill are complete for production of the loose-fill insulation. The company has started production, but is still in it's testing phase and has not begun distribution. TimberHP touts wood fiber insulation as more effective than other current options to insulate buildings.

As decadeslong wolf debate rages on, advocates promise more field evidence

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 23, 2023

State biologists in the Northeast uniformly say that the likelihood of wolf populations in Canada getting a foothold in the Eastern United States is unlikely, if not impossible. But advocates with the Maine Wolf Coalition Inc. say a series of videos they’ve collected in Aroostook County prove wolves are in Maine. John Glowa, the founder and president of the 29-year-old coalition, said for the past five years, the coalition has done field work to gather evidence in the form of videos, tracks or scat to prove what they have suspected for decades: Wolves are here.

Column: It’s more than a breath of fresh air producing those long-winded songs

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 23, 2023

Humans (mammals) have a bidirectional airflow: we inhale oxygen into our lungs, where in smaller air sacs the gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. It takes our exhale to release that carbon dioxide, making it a moment when we are deprived of oxygen. Birds, on the other hand, need to be more efficient, especially when doing things like flying, and so have evolved non-inflatable lungs with nine air sacs that allow for unidirectional airflow. It requires birds to take two breaths to have a complete respiration cycle, but thanks to this unidirectional flow, birds basically never need to “catch their breath.” ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox

Commentary: Here’s a better way to lower ‘standard offer’ electricity costs

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 23, 2023

I organized for a Maine customer the first major deal in the country under the Energy Policy Act. Madison Electric, a municipal or consumer-owned utility, sought power supply bids in the open market, and we came up with a new supply from out of state. Madison’s residential customers saw their rate drop by 26% overnight. In that first purchase and all I did afterwards, from the Deep South to Pacific Northwest, I used the same system. The PUC could adopt the competitive power purchase model used by some large customers to bring down the standard offer cost. ~ Gordon L. Weil

Letter: Hybrid cars not all they’re cracked up to be

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 23, 2023

Numerous studies show that not only are hybrids worse for the environment than EVs, but they can also be worse than gasoline cars. A hybrid is more environmentally friendly than an EV in city-only driving, where electricity comes from coal. That’s the case in only 5% of the world’s grids, and grids are becoming cleaner and cleaner. In most instances, a hybrid is less environmentally friendly than an EV and often worse than a gasoline car. ~David Kuchta, Portland

Letter: Readfield clean-up day shows government works

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 23, 2023

Folks who say government can’t do anything right didn’t see how smoothly and efficiently the hazardous waste clean-up day worked at the Readfield transfer station this past Sunday. There was no line and no waiting because each resident had been given a time to bring their items. The whole process took less than eight minutes. ~ Richard H. “Woody” Tarbuck, Readfield

Opinion: No plan means Pine Tree Power could hurt Maine people

SUN JOURNAL • July 23, 2023

Just like a bank would want to see a business plan before approving a loan, or a contractor would want to see a plan before building a home, we should demand to see a plan before we make the choice to support or oppose Pine Tree Power. ~ former Maine Rep. Chris Caiazzo, Scarborough

Search underway for missing 18-year-old Down East lobsterman

CBS 13 • July 22, 2023

A young fisherman who recently graduated from high school is missing after going out Friday morning to tend his lobster traps off Steuben in Pigeon Hill Bay, near Petit Manan Island. Tylar Michaud, 18, was last heard from on Friday morning. According to the Northern New England sector of the U.S. Coast Guard, searches are underway on beaches in the area, and with planes and boats in the bay.

Joe Biden to visit Maine next week

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 22, 2023

President Joe Biden is visiting Maine next week, but it’s unclear why he is visiting or what he will be doing here. His planned visit was included in a schedule sent by White House staff to pool reporters. Biden will travel to Maine on Friday before leaving the state that evening on his way to Delaware. White House press officials didn’t respond to requests for additional details.