Letter: Barriers to home building must be removed

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • October 22, 2023

My building plans began in 2021. Conversations with South Portland city officials stated that my property met requirements to build a four-plex. The newly passed Maine state ordinance, L.D. 2023, would seal the deal. After time, energy and money spent, acting in good faith, I was advised that this wasn’t so. Is it operator error on my part, poor official communications or faulty decision-making at the municipal level? I’m back at square one. Public officials at all levels have a mandate to streamline this process. 84,000 homes are needed for Mainers in the next three years. Time to get serious. We need to start building. ~ Dani Nisbet, South Portland

Magnetize Maine forum searches for ways to attract and retain young workers

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 22, 2023

Like most of Maine, Aroostook County is searching for ways to attract and retain young workers to fill gaps as older employees retire out of the workforce. Working toward that goal, local and statewide stakeholders attended a forum called Magnetize Maine at the University of Maine Presque Isle on Friday to share ideas. Some panels focused on family farms and young professionals. Despite a 2.6 percent increase in Maine’s population from 2010 to 2020, the County lost 7.1 percent. When young professionals move to Maine they first go to Portland, but Momentum Aroostook highlights the opportunities Maine has for young professionals in the northern region of Maine.

Column: The eventful history of public referenda confrontations with CMP

SUN JOURNAL • October 22, 2023

Here’s a quick look at what the past may have to say about the momentous Question 3 referendum. 
1914: Referendum on whether to create a Public Utilities Commission. Supporters came out ahead 67,368 to 37,008.
1929: Referendum on banning the export of Maine power. CMP lost 54,070 to 64,044. though CMP gained the upper hand when in 1955 the legislature repealed the 1909 law.
1973: Public Power I: Voters had reason to be disaffected with the private power establishment but voted 151,480 to 95,645 against overthrowing it..
1980: Nuclear Power I: Initiative to close CMP’s Maine Yankee nuclear power plant. The No’s and CMP won as the shut down vote lost, 233,198 to 161,181.
1981: Proposal for popular election of the PUC. CMP defeated it, 144,647 to 90,333.
1982: Nuclear Power II: A second proposal to close Maine Yankee was defeated, 256,124 to 201,617.
2021: The Corridor: CMP lost 59% to 41% but a jury ruled the vote came too late in the power line construction schedule to stand in the way of its completion.
2023: Public Power II: The utilities have greater access to campaign funding though that is not a guarantor of success.
What will be the verdict this time? You decide. ~ Paul Mills

Letter: Public power worked for us in Nebraska

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 21, 2023

My wife and I are new residents of Maine, having moved here a year ago from our lifelong home in Nebraska to join our family. Nebraska is the only state in the U.S. served by a publicly owned power system. We have closely followed the claims surrounding Question 3. Having heard the arguments against the proposal from its well-funded opponents, I think it is important to hear what a real customer experiences from public power. Nebraskans enjoy some of the lowest electric rates in the nation, given in part that the citizens are the shareholders. Operational profits are reinvested into grid improvements, power generation (including an ever-expanding number of green energy projects), good salaries for its employees, or passed along to the ratepayers in the form of low rates. Our experiences with public power were consistently positive. ~ Mike Mullally, Veazie

Commentary: The numbers add up to a ‘yes’ on Pine Tree Power

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 21, 2023

The owners of CMP and Versant claim that what has been an excellent investment for them would be a disastrous one for Mainers. The numbers show otherwise. These regulated monopolies enjoy guaranteed rates of return on equity of about 10%. In 2022, according to the annual report of Avangrid, CMP’s base for a specified rate was over $2 billion.  The cost of debt issued is also covered by rates charged to consumers. The almost risk-free returns appeal to the shareholders of these utilities. The priorities of these public utilities will only change under new ownership. The need for Pine Tree Power is urgent and the time is now. ~ Marianne Hill, PhD economist, South Portland

Maine-based Farmers’ Almanac predicts cold and snowy winter

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 21, 2023

Farmers’ Almanac has released its Winter 2024 extended weather forecast, saying the next few months will be cold and snowy in Maine. The forecast doesn’t say the weather will be colder and snowier than normal, but it does confidently predict cold temperatures and snow in northern New England as soon as the  first week of November.

Letter: Both sides on Lake Auburn issue want to protect drinking water

SUN JOURNAL • October 21, 2023

For 18 months people in this newspaper have been saying how Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque and his minions want to destroy the lake, make money, poison our water, etc. But essentially the same scientific based standards my mayor and I, along with dozens of committee members and staff, advocated for are now essential for the protection of our drinking water. The State Drinking Water Program has endorsed the city ordinance changes to ensure our waiver of filtration remains intact. ~ Dan Bilodeau, Auburn

Letter: Can Maine afford Pine Tree Power?

SUN JOURNAL • October 21, 2023

There are things I haven’t seen on Pine Tree Power commercials. First, Central Maine Power is building a billion-dollar transmission line. Is this going to be included in the takeover? Pine Tree Power will not be buying power generation, so will it include other supplier offers, or will we start getting two power bills? Will Pine Tree Power try to take over the power suppliers next? What is the payment on a $13.5 billion bond? If the state can float a $13.5 billion bond, will it reduce the state bond rating? ~ Jim Hodsdon, Lewiston

UNH researchers study a prized buckwheat variety, and it’s growing in Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 20, 2023

A prized variety of buckwheat grown in northern Maine and used increasingly in locally made gluten-free food products is the focus of research at the University of New Hampshire for its exceptional nutritional, medicinal, drought-tolerant and disease-resistant qualities. Crop scientists are studying tartary buckwheat at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at UNH, where researchers are seeking highly nutritious and resilient crops that can be grown in a wide range of soil types and withstand scorching temperatures, downpours, droughts and pests.

‘Forever chemical’ bans face hard truth: Many can’t be replaced

BLOOMBERG • October 20, 2023

As lawmakers around the world weigh bans on cancer-linked “forever chemicals,” many manufacturers are pushing back, saying there often is no substitute for the compounds. Maine has passed legislation to effectively outlaw the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in nearly all products by the early 2030s. Dozens of other states are also considering curbing their use. The European Union’s Chemical Agency has proposed a widespread ban. In response, Ford Motor Co. warned Maine state officials in May that “there is no commercially available technology that exists in the world today” that can replace a PFAS-containing thermoplastic used for electric vehicle batteries. Earlier this month, the U.S. Defense Department said that banning PFAS, used in weapons systems, information technology, and machinery, “would greatly impact national security.”

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