Letter: The irony of pursuing a ‘green’ project at expense of a natural wonder

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 19, 2024

I strongly disagree with the Jan. 12 Bangor Daily News editorial advocating for a wind port on Sears Island. The island is a vital migratory stopover for tens of thousands of birds in the spring and fall. Most of these birds are passing through the island, and even likely coming from nearby Isleboro, heading toward the mainland. Building a wind port on the island, with massive steel cranes, towers and turbines reaching several hundred feet high would create deadly hazards. It is sadly ironic that this “green” energy project would come at such a high cost to one of Maine’s natural wonders, especially since heavily developed Mack Point is already available. ~ John Wyatt, Winterport

Opinion: Some of the worst predictions about climate change are already here

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 19, 2024

New data released earlier this month confirm that last year was the hottest ever recorded — and that the jump in global temperatures was higher than expected. Hotter temperatures contribute to more frequent and more intense storms, along with melting sea ice in Arctic regions, which means rising sea levels. Those rising sea levels swamped Maine’s coastline from Washington to York counties last week. The worst predictions aren’t really predictions any more. They are reality. We have got to figure out how to balance concerns about new energy sources and energy infrastructure with the reality that if we don’t do more to reduce our impact on the planet, we may have little recourse against the damage that will continue to spread across our state. ~ Susan Young

Maine Climate Council to hold special meeting next week to discuss extreme storms

MAINE PUBLIC • January 19, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills has called a special meeting of the Maine Climate Council next Tuesday to review the impact of recent storms and plan for future ones. The council consists of scientists, citizens, and state and local officials. During the meeting they'll hear from frontline agencies that responded to the storms as well as from affected communities. The council will then devise strategies to increase Maine's resiliency to future storms, and will consider strategies used in other states.

Bristol Parks Estimates Over $1 Million in Damage from Storms

LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS • January 19, 2024

Between damages to Pemaquid Beach and structures within Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, Bristol Parks and Recreation Director Shelley Gallagher said the initial estimate to repair destruction from back-to-back January storms could be even higher than $1 million.

Environmentalists, consumer advocates at odds with businesses over plan to scale back natural gas

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 19, 2024

Environmentalists and the state’s public advocate, looking for another tool to cut greenhouse gas emissions, have proposed legislation that would scale back expansion of natural gas in Maine. Gas utilities, business advocacy groups and legislative Republicans quickly pushed back. If passed, the legislation would bar the Maine Public Utilities Commission from approving gas utility proposals to provide service or serve a customer in a municipality outside of its service area, beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Jack Shapiro, climate and clean energy director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, a backer of the measure, said its intent is to require gas users to “pay the true cost,” rather than “subsidize hookups on the backs of others.”

A waterfront park is overrun with rats. Rescuers are trying to find homes for them.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 19, 2024

A group of more than 150 volunteers believes the rodents at the homeless encampment Portland cleared at Harbor View Memorial Park are domestic, not wild, and is working to rescue them and find foster homes. City spokesperson Jessica Grondin said that the rat infestation was “severe” and is a public health concern.

Penobscot Nation land deal almost derailed $100,000 ATV trail

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 19, 2024

A new ATV trail was threatened with closure before it even opened when the Trust for Public Land announced a plan to help the Penobscot Nation acquire ancestral grounds. The problem was that the 12.2-mile trail from Millinocket to Medway runs through the southern edge of the 30,000-acre parcel the Penobscot Nation is expected to receive, said John Raymond, president of the Northern Timber Cruisers ATV and Snowmobile Club in Millinocket. But an easement arrangement between the trust and the state announced Thursday ensures the club can finish its trail and connect it to the 17 miles it already maintains. The club has spent $100,000 so far to build the trail, which will be completed with an 80-foot bridge now that the easement is secured.

Local climate protesters plan trip to D.C. to oppose natural gas facilities in the South

TIMES RECORD • December 18, 2023

A group of Maine climate protesters is heading to Washington, D.C. next month to join others across the nation rallying against a proposal to build 20 new liquified natural gas terminals in Texas and Louisiana. More than a dozen members of Third Act Maine will travel to the nation’s Capitol on Feb. 5 to participate in the protest. Many in the group have been practicing closer to home.

Maine’s climate wake up call

MAINE MORNING STAR • January 18, 2024

In the past month, Maine has been overwhelmed by three record breaking wind and rain storms that resulted in devastating floods in communities across the state. Sooner or later, it should become apparent to those who abhor regulations or who would prefer incremental steps that our survival depends on change. Real change. Just like so-called gun rights, opposition to renewable energy may make sense as a concept until your front stairs are being swept away in a torrent of water, or someone with an assault rifle interrupts your bowling league. Maine can’t wait much longer. 

New bill would stop expansion of natural gas in Maine

WGME-TV13 • January 18, 2024

The expansion of natural gas in Maine could soon be halted. It was once touted as a cheaper, “cleaner” energy source compared to other fossil fuels, but now advocates are hoping a bill will help Maine get away from it. Twenty-five years ago, construction on a Portland natural gas pipeline from western Canada down to Massachusetts was completed. Now, state leaders want to press pause. “As we transition to clean energy, we want to do it in as thoughtful and fair way as possible,” Natural Resources Council of Maine Climate and Clean Energy Director Jack Shapiro said. LD 2077 effectively stops the expansion of natural gas starting next year.

Column: Being a hard-core birder has its risks

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 18, 2024

Hard-core birding is an action-packed adventure. I realize non-birders think birding is a passive activity, requiring less effort than, say, knitting. Non-birders have never charged off in search of a rarity that just appeared on the other end of the state. They’ve never driven forested back roads, paddled secret marshes or clung to the rail of a puffin boat. I spend most of my time doing something. I need to spend more time doing nothing. I’ll call it sit-birding. Bring a chair, and let the birds do all the work. I guess I’ve already started. I brought a chair to the hawk-watch on Cadillac Mountain in September. I brought a chair to the Sea Watch at Schoodic Point in October. Truth is, there are a lot of places in Maine to just sit and watch birds. ~ Bob Duchesne

Maine lawmakers call for global treaty to curb fossil fuel use, slow climate change

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 18, 2024

A divided Maine House voted Thursday to call on the federal government to slow climate change by joining a global treaty to curb fossil fuel use. House members supported the resolution in a 74-55 vote after more than an hour of debate. Democrats were united in support of the resolution while Republicans voted against it. Rep. Daniel Sayre, D-Kennebunk, said during the House debate. “We have robust evidence from this past week alone of what happens when rising water levels and stronger storm surges reach our shores. The economic and personal devastation to Mainers is real.” Several Republican representatives said climate change has always been part of earth’s evolution and is not something to worry about.

Coalition of 34 climate, health groups announce legislative priorities for 2024 session

MAINE MORNING STAR • January 18, 2024

A coalition of 34 climate, conservation and public health organizations announced their agenda for the 2024 legislative session Thursday, backing six bills the groups believe will help protect Maine’s ecosystems while also promoting environmental justice. The Environmental Priorities Coalition unveiled its slate of legislation at a State House event Thursday with allied lawmakers and advocates. 

Environmental Priorities Coalition announces 2024 priority legislation • January 18, 2024

The Environmental Priorities Coalition, nearly 40 environmental, conservation, and public health organizations in Maine, advocates for a shared set of priority bills. On Thursday, the EPC announced its priorities for the 2024 legislative session:
→ LD 993: Secure the future of forests in Maine
→ LD 1215: End the sale of flavored tobacco products
→ LD 1537: Protect Maine’s landmark PFAS products law
→ LD 1621: Advance environmental justice for all
→ LD 2007: Recognize tribal self-determination
→ LD 2077: Rethink natural gas to protect health, climate, and ratepayers

Portland group wants to save rats at Harbor View Memorial Park

CBS 13 • January 18, 2024

The city of Portland is working to remove the rats at Harbor View Memorial Park by way of traps and rat poison. The recent infestation follows the clearing of a homeless encampment at the park earlier this month. There is now a group of people trying to save some of the rats. People are speaking out against the move, arguing more than half of the rats are domesticated or pet rats that got loose at the camp and can be kept as pets. The group advocating for the rats said the city’s approach of using poison not only harms the rats, but the surrounding environment as well.

Letter: Sears Island is a major natural resource

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 18, 2024

Sears Island is a major natural resource for this area, providing critical wildlife habitat above and below the tideline. Mack Point is an existing industrial site that is also highly suitable for this project, just a stone’s throw across the water. Having worked in coal-fired power plants and on Maine islands, I agree we need a broader renewable energy portfolio. But why would we choose to bulldoze and backfill at least 100 acres of forest and shoreline when there is an existing, underutilized, industrial port just next door? At either site, the noise, light pollution, and visual impacts of a roughly 800-foot crane and over 800-foot turbines would be massive for neighbors like me. The decision-makers don’t live here and don’t seem to have shown up for any local public meetings on this issue. Perhaps they don’t grasp the level of support for saving Sears Island that, refreshingly, spans across political lines. ~ Kevin Jerram, Stockton Springs

Maine’s beaches and coastal parks took a beating last week. Will they recover?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 18, 2024

From York County to Washington County, Maine’s beaches and coastal parks – a signature element of the state’s appeal – took a beating last week from two major storms that were compounded by astronomically high tides. State officials say it’s too early to tell how well those damaged areas will recover by spring and summer, when they will welcome tens of thousands of visitors, or whether any damage will be long-lasting.

Opinion: Offshore wind for Maine? Yes. On Sears Island? No.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 18, 2024

Wind power is reliable and clean. Done responsibly, offshore wind development can better public health, protect wildlife, improve energy security, and provide local, family-sustaining jobs to Mainers. Sierra Club strongly supports the safe and responsible development of offshore wind projects that avoid and minimize impacts on ecosystems and wildlife. We support Mack Point as the preferred alternative for the development of an offshore wind facility in Searsport, and not Sears Island. the State and project proponents have not presented evidence that they have done due diligence in analyzing the two sites, particularly in considering Sears Island as a potential site for this project. Sears Island is an undeveloped, natural area which should not be developed for this purpose when an existing industrial site is available nearby. ~ Pete Nichols, Sierra Club Maine

Curbing stress and anxiety could be as simple as going outside

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 18, 2024

It’s not a regulated or licensed form of mental health therapy, but the field of “ecotherapy” is gaining ground not only across the country but also here in Maine. Its practitioners advise clients to get outside and connect with nature as part of an overall treatment plan. Based on the idea that people are connected to, and impacted by the natural world, ecotherapy — also called “green” or “nature” therapy — centers on the positive connections between humans and the natural world. This can mean regular outdoor sessions with a licensed therapist or simple exercises practiced by individuals on their own.

Down East hatchery recovering after it killed 170K fish due to virus

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 18, 2024

The Downeast Salmon Federation is waiting for new equipment that should prevent an infection like the one last fall that made it necessary to kill all 170,000 fish in its Peter Gray Hatchery in East Machias. The fish had tested positive for infectious pancreatic virus in late September during a routine hatchery disease screening. The virus occurs naturally in Maine water from other species of fish or birds, Dwayne Shaw, executive director of Downeast Salmon, said in. The new equipment includes water filters to take out silt and sediment before it enters the hatchery, and an ultraviolet light system to kill anything that sneaks through the filtration. Downeast Salmon has been working for more than 30 years to help restore Maine’s wild salmon population in Washington County waterways.