Column: I just can’t seem to get it right this week

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 1, 2024

It’s been a week of errors. On Monday night, I drove to Brunswick for a presentation to the Merrymeeting Chapter of Maine Audubon. The projector failed. I’m presenting a program on how to identify birds faster and easier for the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon at Fields Pond Audubon Center at 7 p.m., March 1. I promptly posted the wrong web address. The largest wintering flock of harlequin ducks on the East Coast gathers annually at the south end of Isle au Haut. For years, the Isle au Haut ferry made a special trip to see them. COVID-19 put a temporary end to the event, but we decided to resurrect it this year. I was concerned that we might not get enough people. The first trip filled as soon as reservations became available. We scheduled a second trip. That filled immediately. We added a third. That sold out. That was my week. How was yours? ~ Bob Duchesne

A rare white leucistic crow was spotted in Bangor

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 29, 2024

Bangor resident Hillary Gocze was on her typical walk through Mount Hope Cemetery on Tuesday when she spotted a highly unusual bird in the trees — a big departure from the typical crows and Canada geese she sees while visiting Bangor’s historic garden cemetery. Hanging out among the flock of crows was an almost entirely white crow, a rare leucistic variation on the bird’s uniform glossy black feathers. Only the crow’s head was black; the rest was snowy white.

Proposed Gorham Connector would impact 35 landowners in Scarborough

FORECASTER • February 29, 2024

Out of the approximately 50 landowners who would be impacted by the proposed Gorham Connector, 35 are in Scarborough, the Maine Turnpike Authority told the Scarborough Town Council. The turnpike authority has secured the rights to one-third of the Scarborough properties and another third are in negotiations. The remaining properties would involve small easements, such as taking slivers of front lawns or backyards. The estimated cost of the more than $200 million would be paid through connector tolls. Construction could begin in 2026 with completion by 2030.

Bar Harbor can place a daily limit on cruise ship passengers, federal judge rules

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 29, 2024

The town of Bar Harbor can continue to limit the number of cruise ship passengers allowed to come ashore there on a single day, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Bar Harbor voters passed a referendum in 2022barring more than 1,000 cruise ship passengers a day from disembarking in town over concerns about tourists impacting the quality of life for residents. But a group of local business owners sued the town, arguing the visitation cap rendered the town “an unviable destination port-of-call” that was unconstitutional and would hurt the local economy. U.S. District Judge Lance Walker ruled that Bar Harbor had home rule authority granted by the state, which allows cities and towns to pass and enforce local rules that don’t violate state law or the U.S. Constitution.

Proposed lithium mine in western Maine clears key hurdle

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 29, 2024

The Board of Environmental Protection has unanimously agreed to amend Maine’s strict mining rules to allow for open-pit excavation of certain metals, including those fueling the country’s transition to clean energy, as long as the extraction will not pollute the environment. The provisional amendment – the result of a state law adopted last July intended to overhaul the mining law to allow for the extraction of non-reactive minerals like spodumene, the hard rock source of lithium – now heads back to the Legislature for final consideration.

Coalition calls for $30 million bond to support Maine trails

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 29, 2024

A broad coalition of businesses, municipalities and recreation organizations called on the Maine Legislature Thursday to support a $30 million bond to raise money for the state’s trails. Investing in trails is a key strategy for boosting Maine’s outdoor recreation economy, which supports 31,000 jobs. The coalition includes 43 statewide organizations, 192 local organizations, 75 cities and towns, 167 businesses, and 41 ATV and snowmobile clubs.

Coalition of outdoor groups, businesses and towns call for $30M bond to repair, expand Maine trails

MAINE PUBLIC • February 29, 2024

A coalition of than 500 outdoor organizations, businesses and municipalities is calling on Maine lawmakers to send a $30 million bond to voters this Fall. The funds would be managed by the Bureau of Parks and Lands and dispersed over four years to organizations and towns for motorized, non-motorized and multi-use trail projects. Supporters say the money is urgently needed after recent storms and floods caused severe trail damage around the state.

Editorial: Canceled winter events are another climate change warning

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 29, 2024

Numerous outdoor events — notably Aroostook County’s Can-Am dog sled races — have been canceled this winter because of changing and unpredictable weather conditions. Unprecedented warming globally is primarily being driven by climate change, exacerbated by El Nino. A charitable snowmobile run in Piscataquis County, scheduled for March 2, was also canceled. And the snowmobile season in Aroostook County could be cut short this winter. Maine’s changing winters are making it harder for residents and tourists to enjoy outdoor activities, such as snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing. Maine’s changing winter is another example of the impacts of climate change and a reminder that we have to take action now to preserve the outdoor activities that draw Mainers outdoors and draw visitors to Maine.

Column: Federal renewable energy tax credits

TIMES RECORD • February 29, 2024

If you have been considering reducing your energy costs, and your carbon footprint, at home by shifting to renewable sources of heating, cooling and electricity, federal tax credits make this less expensive. ~ Nancy B. Chandler

Column: Turning climate plan into climate action

TIMES RECORD • February 29, 2024

A second public forum for Brunswick residents to learn more and provide their input on the town’s Climate Action Plan will be held at the Coffin School Gym on March 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Details are on the project webpage (brunswickclimateaction.org) under the “Get Involved” tab. However, if you are unable to attend, the workshop materials will be available online a few days following the workshop under the “Community Workshop” tab of the same website.

Letter: Manufacturing doesn’t belong on Sears Island

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 29, 2024

Sears Island, or Wassumkeag, is a treasure and has been revered for over 3,000 years. The choice is clear: to re-develop Mack Point, an active port and industrial site for more than 100 years, into the hub for manufacturing renewable energy from floating offshore wind turbines, or to destroy the ecological, recreational and economic value of Sears Island, which is the largest undeveloped island on the Maine coast connected by a causeway. Please protect this natural treasure. ~ Nicholas Jarvis, Searsport

Sunken historic fishing boat is leaking fuel off Maine’s coast

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 29, 2024

Harpswell officials are working to raise a historic 83-foot fishing boat that’s been leaking oil in the New Meadows River after it was sunk by one of the twin storms that hit Maine’s coast in January. But it’s unclear who would pay for that work or how quickly it could happen. It’s also questionable whether a new owner would be able to save the boat once it’s recovered, although a relative of its original owner is making a longshot effort to do so. Derelict boats appear to be a growing problem along sections of Maine’s coast. There’s been an uptick in old vessels being abandoned in Portland Harbor.

Letter: Misinformation concerning Advanced Clean Car II rules

SUN JOURNAL • February 29, 2024

Maine has adopted the Advanced Clean Car II rules, which encourage dealers to sell 43% electric and/or plug-in hybrid new vehicles by 2027, increasing to 82% by 2032. This change has elicited a firestorm of protest about EVs, but it is based on misinformation. The rule does not force people to buy an EV. The world must make the transition away from fossil fuels. In Maine we are already paying for decades of delay with hotter summers, rainier winters, bigger rainstorms and floods, and erosion of beaches and waterfront property. Eventually switching to all-electric vehicles makes sense. ~ Ben Lounsbury, Auburn

Sap-boiling operation sets building on fire in Strong

SUN JOURNAL • February 28, 2024

Sap left boiling on an outside grill Tuesday heavily damaged a nearby building and its contents, including a motorcycle. No one was injured. The property at 113 North Main St. is owned by Vincent Barden. About 25 firefighters from Strong, Farmington and Phillips responded to call about 3:30 p.m.

Company behind flagpole project fined $250,000 over cabin violations

MAINE PUBLIC • February 28, 2024

The company that had planned to construct the world's tallest flagpole in Down East Maine must pay a $250,000 fine for failing to get permits to build cabins in Columbia Falls. The Board of Environmental Protection voted Wednesday to approve the consent agreement between Worcester Holdings and the Department of Environmental Protection. Under the agreement the company will pay the fine and submit an after-the-fact permit application by Friday. Over three years, Worcester Holdings build 52 cabins, parking areas and a restaurant — violating site and erosion control laws, and failing to get proper permits. Although the board approved the agreement, some members expressed frustration about how long it has taken to resolve the issue, calling the violations egregious.

League of Conservation Voters Releases National Environmental Scorecard

LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS • February 28, 2024

On Wednesday, the League of Conservation Voters released the 2023 National Environmental Scorecard. Maine’s congressional delegation had mixed pro-environment voting scores:
Sen. Collins 13%
Sen. Angus King’s 81%
Rep. Chellie Pingree 97%
Rep. Golden 53%

The ‘glampground’ is gone, but Lamoine will still vote on a ban

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 28, 2024

After placing a moratorium on “glampgrounds” to stop the construction of more than 100 fancy geodesic camping domes, the town of Lamoine is poised to vote on whether to ban such projects permanently. The vote will be held at the town’s annual meeting, 6 p.m., March 31, at the Lamoine Consolidated School gym. CPEX LLC, which operates Clear Sky Resorts in Arizona, submitted a proposal in January 2023 to erect 103 domed luxury cabins on 12 acres of a 230-acre parcel. Sweeping reactive bans on ambitious development plans are not uncommon in Maine. Most recently, the town of Bradford temporarily banned campgrounds and several other types of shelter to stop a nonprofit from building a rural commune for homeless people.

Maine House approves food waste recycling mandate

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 28, 2024

The Maine House of Representatives narrowly approved a bill Wednesday that would keep commercial food waste out of the trash by requiring some large producers to donate their edible leftovers and recycle the scraps. The House voted 76-64 to adopt LD 1009, a bill introduced by Rep. Stanley Zeigler Jr., D-Montville. The bill, which was endorsed in January by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, now heads to the Senate for consideration. “The bill has the ability to help reach the state goal of reducing solid waste below 1/2 ton per capita,” said Ziegler.

Recycled oil spill shuts down traffic at Bates College

SUN JOURNAL • February 28, 2024

Roughly 1,500 gallons of largely recycled vegetable oil spilled Wednesday morning during a delivery at Bates College. Firefighters responded to the scene where supervisors called in the Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies. The biofuel product is part of Bates’ effort to use green energy sources.

Letter: Offshore wind can bring good-paying jobs

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 28, 2024

For my family’s sake, I know that we need to do everything we can to fight back against climate change, and one of the best ways we can do that is to develop offshore wind energy. I also know that the offshore wind industry would bring good-paying union jobs when we develop a new port to service the industry. Now, with a new port we have a chance to create new, local jobs for Mainers. ~ Matt Pender, Searsport