Maine’s upcoming vote on phasing out gas car sales, explained

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 11, 2023

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection is set to vote on a controversial rule aimed at phasing out new sales of gas-powered cars and boosting electric vehicle adoption. The Dec. 21 vote will come after months of passionate debate and feedback on the plan the Natural Resources Council of Maine and several allies proposed through a provision in state law allowing citizens to ask agencies to adopt or change rules if at least 150 registered voters sign a petition. The “Advanced Clean Cars II” plan would require battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to make up 43 percent of new car sales for 2027 models and 82 percent of new sales by model year 2032. It would not require anyone to give up current vehicles, nor would it apply to used car sales.

Winthrop School District one of several to report issues with new electric school buses

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • December 10, 2023

Two of the four electric school buses Winthrop received this year through the Maine Clean School Bus Program never hit the road because of malfunctions that made them unsafe to drive. Winthrop is one of three school districts that reported “leaky windshields” on new electric buses from the Canadian-based Lion Electric Co. The Maine Department of Education said it is aware of the issue and that the Yarmouth School Department and the Vinalhaven School have also reported problems with the windshields of some of their electric buses.

Phippsburg to vote on solar moratorium at special meeting

TIMES RECORD • December 10, 2023

Giri Hotels’ plan to build a 5.4-acre solar array on a section of their property that abuts West Point Road has caused concern and dismay amongst Phippsburg’s small community. Giri, which bought Phippsburg’s Sebasco Harbor resort last May, is partnering with Bold Coast Energy for the project, which will necessitate a nearly 10-acre clear cut. After many residents spoke out against the proposed solar array at a Town meeting on Nov. 14, the Select Board proposed a 180-day moratorium on all new solar and wind energy projects. Although this will not affect the Giri-Sebasco project, it would give the town ample time to develop an ordinance about new solar and wind developments with input from its residents.

The pandemic gave Maine a population boom. Will climate change be next?

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • December 10, 2023

Maine is experiencing an unexpected pandemic-fueled population boom, with new arrivals filling the growing gap between deaths and births, and then some. In the past decade, Maine’s population has increased by 56,148, according to U.S. census estimates, even as the number of deaths has outnumbered births by 27,820. That means the state actually has attracted about 84,000 new residents since 2013 – significantly more than the population of its biggest city – with three-quarters of them coming in the last four years. Maine’s population growth since 2019 has been twice the national rate. As the pandemic effect continues, another factor – displacement from climate change – also could be influencing Maine’s surge and could supplant the pandemic as a driver of in-migration in years to come.

Society Notebook: At Evening for the Environment, speakers share personal connections to climate

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • December 10, 2023

The 2023 Evening for the Environment, hosted by Maine Conservation Voters and Maine Conservation Alliance, featured spoken-word artist-activist Signature MiMi, Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador Maulian Bryant and marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, co-editor of the bestselling climate solutions anthology “All We Can Save.” Four hundred people – including college students, philanthropists, activists, scientists, teachers and elected officials – turned out to hear these climate feminists Nov. 29 at the University of New England’s Portland campus.

Column: New Maine Mountain Guide covers even more ground

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • December 10, 2023

The Maine Mountain Guide, published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, is the only comprehensive hiking guide to the mountain trails of Maine. It’s considered by countless hikers and backpackers to be an indispensable planning resource and an essential trail companion. The latest edition, the 12th since the book first appeared in print in 1961, is now available. Nearly 100 new trails on 30 “new” mountains plus six new in-text maps have been added to the 12th edition. The six full-color topographic pull-out maps have also been revised and expanded. All told, the guide features a veritable bonanza of hiking opportunities from Aroostook to Acadia and Lovell to Lubec that includes 330 mountains and some 700 trails totaling over 1,600 trail miles. ~ Carey Kish

Column: Hey deer hunters, here’s your shot at some self evaluation

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • December 10, 2023

The sun set Saturday night, ending another Maine deer season. It was successful for some; not so much for others. Maybe you didn’t get your target buck, fill all your tags or fill any. Whatever the case, if things didn’t go quite as you’d hoped, there’s no better time to look back on what went wrong, and forward toward doing better next year. ~ Bob Humphrey

Column: New info helps explain behavior for birds staying for the winter

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • December 10, 2023

“Where are the birds!?” This fall has been exceptional for mast, which we’ll generalize as the “fruit of the forest.” There is an abundance of acorns and pine cones this year. Mast years can occur for a variety of reasons; this year it was likely due to the very wet summer we had. With so much natural food on the landscape, birds, and even squirrels don’t need to come to feeders for the food we put out for them because nature has provided lots of better quality (higher nutritional value) food. We’ve also had a number of very warm days this fall, allowing insects to stay active later. Insects are the best protein source that most birds are going to have until spring. With so much natural food on the landscape, birds, and even squirrels don’t need to come to feeders for the food. ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox

Some progress, but still far to go on Maine’s climate goals

MAINE MONITOR • December 10, 2023

Stakeholder groups, focused on reducing planet-warming emissions from top sources like buildings and transportation while ensuring equity, resilience and more, are already working to update Maine’s landmark plan to combat climate change. Last week, we got the final update before the update: An annual progress report on the original 2020 plan, which sheds light on areas the state might target for getting more aggressive or sharpening its goals in the updated plan next year. This new progress report for 2023 notes a striking backdrop for the state’s climate action efforts: “Maine experienced four extreme weather events in the past year that merited Presidential Disaster Declarations.”

Column: The great renaming debate keeps taking flight

SUN JOURNAL • December 9, 2023

Historical revisionism in the name of political correctness in this country is taking our confused culture into unchartered territory that is as absurd as it is dishonest to history itself. The American Ornithological Society is going to do away with the naming of songbirds after people and, apparently, is going to rename birds named after past individuals, whose beliefs or behavior do not measure up to AOS’s moral standards. As for me, a casual bird watcher and an old school traditionalist, I think that this whole undertaking is for the birds. ~ V. Paul Reynolds.

In rebuttal: Op-ed’s dismissal of heat pumps skipped some facts

SUN JOURNAL • December 9, 2023

Les Otten’s dismissal of heat pumps in favor of pellet stoves skipped over a few facts that complicate the picture. Mr. Otten’s brisk summary of heating appliance efficiency fails to note that while wood pellet stoves might achieve 85%, heat pumps are actually 400% efficient at moderate outdoor temperatures, and they produce zero waste heat. Even at sub-zero outdoor temperatures the heat pump efficiency is 200%. Otten claims that it is “an undeniable truth” that “wood indisputably has the best carbon footprint.” The carbon neutrality of biomass burning is much in dispute due to the timescale of carbon dioxide uptake. The CO2 from a tree burned today will take 30-plus years to be taken up in regrowth. We don’t have those 30 years to address the problem. Furthermore, any biomass not burned is that much less CO2 produced. ~ Paul Stancioff is a University of Maine Farmington professor emeritus of Physics. Cynthia Stancioff is a retired English major seeking climate solutions

Downeaster receives millions for maintenance, planning for future service improvements

MAINE PUBLIC • December 8, 2023

The Downeaster rail corridor has secured a $27.5 million federal grant to improve the main line from Brunswick to the Massachusetts border. The funds will help replace some 124,000 railroad ties and should improve the delivery of freight into Maine. CSX Transportation, which owns the line, has agreed to contribute another $6.8 million. The maintenance will bring the line into a state of good repair, and it will ultimately improve service for Amtrak travelers as well.

Amtrak’s Downeaster to receive $27 million in federal funding for track improvements

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 8, 2023

Amtrak’s Downeaster will receive $27 million under a new initiative from the Biden administration to improve and expand passenger rail service across the country. The funds for the Downeaster Corridor Track Improvement Project will improve the mainline from Brunswick to the Massachusetts state line and help avoid delays and longer transit times.

Opinion: Maine needs to adopt state rules to clean up trucking pollution

CENTRAL MAINE • December 8, 2023

It is clear that if we want to mitigate the climate crisis impacts on our communities we need to use every tool to move toward a zero-emissions future. As a scientist, I support positive, common-sense policies that help us reach our climate goals. Transportation is the most polluting sector in Maine and the Clean Transportation Roadmap lays out clear recommendations to cut emissions. The Maine DEP has began the rulemaking process on two clean vehicle rules: Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II). The ACC II sets sales targets for electric vehicles through 2032 and the ACT sets electric sales targets for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to accommodate an efficient transition to electric trucks and buses. Neither of these forces anyone to buy an EV, but rather ensures that the market provides an increasing range of options for sales. ~ Robert Dodge, Maine’s Union of Concerned Scientists

Letter: Lobstermen and their obstructionism

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 8, 2023

Last year, the Maine lobster industry was faced with a potential new requirement that would mandate the use of on-demand or “ropeless” fishing gear to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale in certain times and places. Maine’s representatives delivered what the governor hailed as a “lifeline for Maine’s lobster industry”: Six years and $18 million to test and develop safer fishing gear. The lobster industry got exactly what it wanted: more time and money. But to read that the industry now won’t even participate in the testing that it demanded is beyond troubling. This exposes what may be behind this: a shameless political tactic to delay doing what is needed to help this species recover. ~ Sarah Perry, Falmouth

Going Wild with adventure birder and YouTuber Bob Duchesne

MAINE PUBLIC • December 7, 2023

Aislinn talks with Bob Duchesne about how he first got interested in birding and asks him for some tips for beginner birders. Be sure to check out Bob's YouTube channel and his website.

As Maine sees record number of Lyme cases, health officials urge precautions through the winter

MAINE PUBLIC • December 7, 2023

Maine has seen a record number of Lyme disease cases this year, according to the state Center for Disease Control. There have been more than 2,700 cases so far. This year, the Maine CDC also recorded a record five cases of Powassan virus.Deer ticks can be active anytime the temperature is above freezing, and health officials are urging people to take precautions through the winter to prevent bites.

With merger, Scarborough Land Trust, Friends of Scarborough Marsh join forces

FORECASTER • December 7, 2023

After years of collaboration, the Scarborough Land Trust and the Friends of Scarborough Marsh announced Thursday that they are officially merging. The land trust’s bigger budget, experienced grant writers and full-time staff members will allow the members of Friends of Scarborough Marsh to have greater impact.

Column: Look to Feast of the Seven Fishes to inspire holiday meals

TIMES RECORD • December 7, 2023

It’s easy to love the Feast of the Seven Fishes when you live in Maine and have access to an amazing variety of seafood — even in December. The significance of fish in this feast stems in part from Catholic traditions such as not eating meat on Friday or, in this case, on Christmas Eve, “La Vigilia” in Italian. The holiday is thought to have started amongst families from southern Italy immigrating to America who sought to continue to find ways to celebrate their seaside heritage. Holidays are all about traditions, and they often involve good food. Learning about these types of feasts is an easy way to be introduced to new cultures and to discover a new way to enjoy the local foods. This holiday season, don’t forget the fishes. ~ Susan Olcott

Opinion: Aroostook Renewable Gateway benefits Maine in many ways

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 7, 2023

LS Power Development, the company overseeing the Aroostook Renewable Gateway project, is committed to develop a transmission project that delivers Maine-made renewable energy with minimal environmental impact and maximum economic and societal benefits for Maine residents. Unfortunately, developing an underground project would be over five times more expensive to Maine ratepayers and likely have a greater environmental impact because of the need to dig a continuous trench through aquifers, wetlands and sensitive environmental habitats. Several local environmental organizations have reviewed the proposed routes and potential environmental impacts. They support the Maine Public Utilities Commission in finalizing a contract for the project. ~ Doug Mulvey, Missouri-based LS Power Development