The Island Institute receives grant to boost small business

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 20, 2023

The Island Institute received a nearly $87,000 federal grant to grow the Tom Glenn Community Impact Fund’s loan portfolio. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Development Grant program. The Tom Glenn Community Impact Fund is a revolving loan fund established in 2012. The fund’s  money, including the grant, will be used to help support Maine’s small businesses. The primary goal of the Island Institute, a Rockland-based organization that was founded in 1983, is to support island and coastal communities. The organization has partnered with the USDA for over a decade, funding “aquaculture business expansion, clean energy installations, digital communications for islands, and technical support in low-income communities.”

Now’s the time to visit popular tourist spots in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 20, 2023

Popular outdoor destinations usually attract people for good reasons, whether it’s spectacular views, well-maintained trails, abundant wildlife or unique history. I know this. Yet sometimes, a place is so popular that I’m hesitant to visit it, even if it’s close to home. It’s frustrating to deal with busy parking lots and clogged trails. When I spend time outside, I usually want to experience some degree of solitude and peace. But I have a solution: I visit these beloved destinations during the “off-season,” which is basically late fall through spring.

Maine Calling: Fall bird migration

MAINE PUBLIC • October 20, 2023

Autumn in Maine signals the time to watch for the variety of birds that are on the move before winter arrives. We'll discuss what to look for, from waterfowl to certain songbirds and raptors. Our bird experts will also talk about some of the unusual recent occurrences and sightings, and whether they represent trends brought on by climate change or other environmental pressures. Panelists: Bob Duchesne, birding guide; columnist, Bangor Daily News; Doug Hitchcox, staff naturalist, Maine Audubon.

Woodland residents allege potato waste turned their water orange

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 20, 2023

Maine agricultural officials are investigating whether a Woodland Select Board member allowed fertilizer to be spread too close to neighboring properties, allegedly tainting residents’ water supplies. Diane Stubbs and Merton and Sharon Pete allege that Thomas Drew, who owns a dairy farm on Woodland Center Road and serves on the small Aroostook County town’s Select Board, allowed the Washburn-based company Penobscot McCrum to dump potato waste from its processing plant onto Drew’s property on Aug. 18. Stubbs and the Petes claim that the potato waste crossed over to their properties on Langley Road and got into their well systems.

Column: A ‘dangerous time’ without leadership

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 20, 2023

This may be the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades. The process of government becomes hostage to a small group of extreme Republicans ignoring the national interest. Trump, the pollsters’ pick for the GOP presidential nomination, goes from one courtroom to another but seems immune from political harm. Biden suffers from seeming bland in the Age of Celebrity. China, Russia, Iran and North Korea strive to show that dictatorship is the natural form of government. They have more nuclear capability than the U.S. Pax Americana that guaranteed world peace. The United Nations has failed to promote and preserve peace. Russia invades Ukraine. The problem of Israel and Palestine grows worse. Even worse is the increasing threat to life from the climbing global temperature. The problem is leadership. We don’t have any. It requires new people at the top. ~ Gordon L. Weil

Commentary: Why I’ve decided to vote against the creation of Pine Tree Power

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 20, 2023

For years I was afforded an opportunity to peer inside Central Maine Power Co., its parent company Avangrid, and Hydro Quebec, as they sought to create the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) corridor. After much thought, I plan to vote “no” on Question 3, Pine Tree Power. Some economists have argued that a public power authority’s cost of borrowing in the bond market will be a substantial cost saver so they support Question 3. This may prove true, but only if Pine Tree Power proves itself competent, effective and trustworthy. Otherwise, I can think of no good reason to vote in favor of this long and complex ballot proposal. Here are eight concerns. ~ Richard Barringer, former Maine commissioner of conservation and director of state planning, and founding director of the Muskie School of Public Service at USM

Commentary: Taxing cheeseburgers could help save the climate

BLOOMBERG • October 20, 2023

Livestock farming contributes roughly 18% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, in the form of carbon dioxide, methane from cow burps and nitrous oxide from fertilizer. Not to mention the associated deforestation, pollution and biodiversity loss. Even if every other source of warming gases vanished overnight, food production would still generate more than enough to push the planet well past 1.5C of heating above pre-industrial averages. Meat and dairy farming contribute the bulk of those emissions. To meet the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C, meat prices should be 20% to 60% higher globally to account for all the environmental damage it does. A simple first step could be to stop paying farms to produce more meat. This amounts to an indirect gift of $402.5 billion to $642 billion per year. Governments need to find a way to redirect that largesse to healthier, less carbon-intensive food. ~ Mark Gongloff

Letter: A nonprofit utility would be better for ratepayers

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 20, 2023

I will vote for the creation of Pine Tree Power. A nonprofit owner would not make decisions that benefit its investors over its customers and would instead reinvest in the systems serving those customers. That would be a far more equitable outcome from creation of a public utility than continued distribution of profits to foreign investors. ~ Mose Price, Harpswell

Letter: Mainers won’t fall for ads against Question 3

MORNING SENTINEL • October 20, 2023

The corporate opponents to Question 3 have spent $34 million and counting trying to buy “no” votes on the measure to replace Maine’s two investor-owned electric utility corporations, CMP and Versant, with a nonprofit company. Voters in Maine have noticed the flood of fliers in our mail and the polished media spots online and on television. We won’t fall for the corporate-supported slick and expensive messaging. Please vote “yes” on Question 3. ~ Karen Kusiak, Fairfield

Letter: Pine Tree Power laden with risk

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 20, 2023

Recently retired from a career in risk management and insurance, specializing in power and utilities, I see nothing but unnecessary risk to Maine’s stakeholders in Question 3. The bill lacks integration plans or operating framework for the complex and rapidly evolving businesses of CMP and Versant. The astronomical cost to ratepayers for the forced seizure of these assets will make it difficult to maintain essential grid reliability and safety needed for emerging cyber and environmental requirements. Worst is the politicized leadership. Pine Tree Power is a truly bad idea. ~ Christopher Scontras, Cape Elizabeth

Federal forecasters predict warm, wet US winter but less snow because of El Nino, climate change

ASSOCIATED PRESS • October 20, 2023

The upcoming United States winter looks likely to be a bit low on snow and extreme cold outbreaks, with federal forecasters predicting the North to get warmer than normal.

State officials deliberate rezoning request for proposed mine

MAINE PUBLIC • October 19, 2023

After three days of hearings in Millinocket, the Land Use Planning Commission will deliberate on the next steps for a proposed metallic mineral mine project at Pickett Mountain. The commission heard from the mining company, opponents and members of the public. In what is seen as the first test of Maine's strict mining regulations, the panel will next decide on whether to rezone nearly 400 acres in the Katahdin region of Penobscot county. Wolfden Resources says the company is prepared to reach Maine's high bar for mining. Supporters say the mine will bring much-needed jobs and industry to the region, while opponents argue it will pollute the iconic Maine woods and waters.

Feds identify Gulf of Maine area for offshore wind

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 19, 2023

The Biden administration announced Thursday that it has identified a 3.5 million-acre wind energy site in the Gulf of Maine that excludes lobster fishing grounds and right whale areas, drawing praise from environmentalists, the lobster industry and organized labor. Wind power will not likely be generated in the area until at least the next decade.

Climate demonstrator outside L.L. Bean gets surprise visit from CEO

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 19, 2023

Since September, Rixon and a group of fellow retirees have been standing with signs outside L.L. Bean’s sprawling downtown Freeport campus as well as its corporate headquarters just down the road. They have been calling for the retailer to reconsider its relationship with Citibank due to its investments in fossil fuel companies. Rixon got a surprise response Tuesday morning a little before 8 a.m. when L.L. Bean CEO Stephen Smith. Smith explained how L.L. Bean had accomplished a long list of environmental initiatives and listened to Rixon’s point of view. Smith recently wrote, “The card is a significant source of revenue for the company, helping to fund millions of dollars in investments in sustainability and conservation efforts such as renewing our $3 million commitment to the National Park Foundation and endowing a postdoctoral research program at the University of Maine to identify PFAS remediation solutions.”

A look at the secretive, expensive campaign to turn Maine voters against Pine Tree Power

MAINE PUBLIC • October 19, 2023

In Nov. 2021, Portland-based Sea Salt and Spruce Consulting was promoting essential oils and various wellness and social media tips. Less than two years later, the same company is a significant recipient of campaign cash in a referendum that will determine the fate of Maine’s two largest electricity utilities. Why the company was chosen as a vendor and how it spent nearly $800,0000 remains a closely guarded secret, yet it’s part of a sprawling, $32 million effort by Central Maine Power and Versant Power to defeat Question 3 on the November ballot. While much of the utilities' campaign spending is visible to voters through a barrage of television and online ads, a more opaque influencing operation churns through social media, state house lobbyists, consulting firms and paid politicians.

Opinion: Here is the good, the bad and the scary of climate change

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY • October 19, 2023

Climate change is here. We can watch it play out like a horror movie, with our fingers covering our eyes. Or we can get involved. Regardless of political affiliation, we are all in this predicament together. We must work together to solve it. Shed complacency and try on the new identity of “climate hero.” Put away the skeletons of fear and worry. The past is past. Commit to a clean energy future and help make it happen, one small action at a time. ~ Susan Atkinson, Citizens Climate Lobby

Column: Pine Tree Power’s Question 3 provides no real answers

CENTRAL MAINE • October 19, 2023

The big question for Mainers in the Nov. 7 election will be whether to create Pine Tree Power, charged with routing all the electrons that make up our increasingly vital supply of electricity. Question 3 is a big deal. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong question. The biggest structural problem is the witless 2000 law to “deregulate” electric providers. It’s never produced benefits for residential customers, but split generation and transmission functions, leading to the sale of Maine-based companies to out-of-state interests. This, in turn, produced customer service failures that fueled the referendum against CMP’s power line to Canada — power we’d love to have right now. Then there’s a takeover’s cost, $7-$13 billion. When we get into management that things really go haywire. We should focus on the real need: a public power authority to govern generation that can guide the transition to renewables. ~ Douglas Rooks

Letter: A jingle in support of Pine Tree Power

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 19, 2023

I’ve written a jingle in support of Question 3 on the November ballot. To be sung to the tune of an old Robert Hall radio ad:

When the prices go up up up,
And the service goes down down down,
CMP’s the reason, no matter the season,
Dump CMP!
Vote “yes” on 3!

Maybe someone up north can come up with one for “Versant.” ~ Mike Roland, Bowdoinham

Section of Westbrook’s popular River Walk trail closed for repairs

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 18, 2023

A section of Westbrook’s popular River Walk trail will be closed this winter for repairs, Mayor Michael T. Foley announced Wednesday. Foley said in a community message that an inspection of the trail’s boardwalk Wednesday identified “an immediate need to limit access to this section of the walkway to protect pedestrian safety.”

CMP receives $30 million grant to improve grid reliability

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 19, 2023

Central Maine Power has received $30 million from the federal government to install equipment intended to help reduce the frequency and impact of power outages following storms. Increased threats from climate change are part of the motivation for CMP to strengthen Maine’s electrical system. The money is expected to be used to buy equipment mounted on the poles that will act like circuit breakers and allow the grid to rebalance more quickly following outages.