Opinion: We can conserve our way to a more stable climate

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • March 17, 2024

Mainers have had plenty of reminders of the impact of climate change. Conservation is a vital climate strategy. Wetlands absorb water and minimize flooding and damage to homes and businesses. Tidal marshes soak up storm surges and reduce erosion. Eelgrass beds and healthy coastal wetlands store carbon and filter out harmful chemicals from the water, while providing critical habitat for many of Maine’s commercially harvested fish, shellfish and baitworm species. Reconnecting rivers brings the return of sea-run river herring and endangered Atlantic salmon – which means more food for wildlife, healthier river ecosystems, and more vibrant fisheries along our waterways and in the Gulf of Maine. Maine’s iconic forests hold over 2 billion metric tons of carbon. Protecting these natural places protects all of us. ~ Kate Dempsey, Nature Conservancy in Maine, and Kate Stookey, Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Letter: Hold polluters accountable

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • March 17, 2024

During two storms in January, Mainers experienced the power of rising seas and the havoc wrought by increasingly intense storms. The World Health Organization estimates that 3.6 billion people in the world already live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change. As many as 1 million plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction, and entire ecosystems are unstable. Why are candidates avoiding this issue? It has been convenient for the biggest polluters to divert attention from themselves by focusing on how private citizens can make carbon-saving changes. However, the strongest carbon mitigation will occur when major polluters change. ~ Eleanor Morse, Peaks Island

Letter: Memorable comparisons between Biden and Trump

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • March 17, 2024

Biden’s deep memory of scientists urging the U.S. to address the climate change that has set the world on fire, once again resulting in additional hundreds of billions aimed at adopting sustainable, nonpolluting energy. Trump’s memory, shaped by his relationship with Big Oil? “Burn, baby, burn.” ~ Michael Petit
Portland

Video of a rare golden eagle

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 17, 2024

It is very rare to see one golden eagle in Maine, let alone two as you will observe in this video footage from frequent Outdoors contributor Allie Ladd. The second eagle is the one that starts a squabble. Golden eagle sightings are much less frequent in Maine than those of bald eagles. Golden eagle nesting pairs haven’t been tracked here since 1997, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

In photos: Portland Bike Party holds a St. Patrick’s Day outing

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 16, 2024

About 75 people of all ages pedaled the 5.5-mile St. Patrick's Day course, beginning at Thomas Knight Park and continuing to Willard Beach for a customary dance stop before looping back.

Why Americans pay so much more than anyone else for weather disasters

WASHINGTON POST • March 16, 2024

The United States suffers the world’s second-highest toll from major weather disasters, according to a new analysis – even when numbers are adjusted for the country’s wealth. The report released late last month by Zurich-based reinsurance giant Swiss Re, which analyzed the vulnerability and damages of 36 different countries, suggests that weather disasters may become a heavy drag on the U.S. economy – especially as insurers increasingly pull out of hazardous areas. Last year, the United States experienced 28 billion-dollar disasters.

As storms intensify, Machias debates solutions for its deteriorating dike

MAINE MONITOR • March 16, 2024

Catastrophic winter storm surges are showing no mercy as the debate drags on about the best remedy for a rapidly deteriorating Machias dike. Last fall a temporary span was built over the dike after portions of the foundation gave way. Then, in early January, back-to-back violent storm surges flooded Machias, besieging the dike and forcing the town office to relocate. The storm that hit last Sunday further eroded the dike’s foundation and ripped out portions of the adjacent Down East Sunrise Trail, rendering the popular recreational path impassable. Sunday’s assault got everyone’s attention. On Monday, nearly two dozen officials from Machias, East Machias, state agencies and conservation groups met on the trail to survey the damage. The conservation groups say the Down East Sunrise Trail also needs significant improvements.

Opinion: The state must slow Casella’s rush to expand landfill

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 16, 2024

Casella Waste Services is currently pushing Maine officials to extend its contract to manage the state-owned polluting Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town. The problem is that this contract still has a decade to go, and the company is attempting to push this process ahead prematurely to expand the landfill and commit Maine to many more decades of toxic landfill pollution. It’s time for Maine to adopt zero waste goals at the front-end of the waste stream to reduce, reuse and recycle, and to safely compost organics – in line with the state’s solid waste management hierarchy. Infrastructure and programs must be developed regionally, and control and accountability for operations should be kept local. Casella must be held to the due process of the law now, not granted a VIP pass to its proposed landfill expansion. ~ Jackie Elliott, Don’t Waste ME; Nora Bosworth, Conservation Law Foundation

Janet Mills proposes rolling back dune protections to build offshore wind port

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 15, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills wants to roll back protections for the sand dunes that partially make up the state’s preferred site for a landmark offshore wind terminal. The Democratic governor’s bill, which was submitted this week by Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, a member of the Legislature’s energy committee, is aimed at clearing the way for the terminal. The Mills administration picked Sears Island in Searsport over nearby Mack Point as its preferred staging ground for shipping wind components out to sea. The state’s preference for Sears Island has been controversial, and it has been opposed by some conservationists plus an eclectic coalition of conservatives, progressives and tribes. Mills’ move to roll back existing environmental laws could add fuel to their arguments.

Increasingly early ice-outs on Maine waters open up new problems, experts say

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 15, 2024

As one of Maine’s warmest recorded winterscomes to an end, many waterways across the state are seeing ice form later and melt earlier than ever, which experts say is causing increasingly severe environmental impacts. While ice-outs historically begin in mid-April, ice has already disappeared on many Maine lakes this year. At Lake Auburn, ice-out this year was declared on Tuesday, March 12, earlier than ever recorded. At China Lake, it was Monday, March 11, another record. Earlier ice-outs have severe impacts on everything from algae blooms and trout populations to moose calves and snowmobilers.

Water samples from Casco Bay reveal widespread low levels of PFAS

MAINE PUBLIC • March 15, 2024

More than 100 water samples taken from 18 sites in Casco Bay last year showed low levels of PFAS. Friends of Casco Bay and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences are conducting a three-year study on so called "forever chemicals" in the Bay and their sources and impacts on the marine environment. Casco Baykeeper Ivy Frignoca said the next step is to find the sources of the PFAS. She said sampling this year will focus on sampling water and sediment at key sites. Friends of Casco Bay will hold an online webinar to discuss the three-year study and PFAS results in detail on Thursday, March 21 at 8 am.

Mills administration taking next steps to advance Sears Island offshore wind project

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 15, 2024

The Mills administration is taking the next step to advance its selection of Sears Island as a hub for Maine’s floating offshore wind industry by proposing legislation to allow construction in a coastal sand dune system. Gov. Janet Mills is asking the Legislature to authorize the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to grant a permit under the Natural Resources Protection Act for an offshore wind terminal “notwithstanding any provision of law regarding activities in coastal sand dune systems to the contrary” if other permitting and licensing criteria are met. But the Friends of Sears Island group says the legislation could circumvent a potentially lengthy permitting process.

Mills, Congress members praise decision to protect vital lobstering territory from wind development

MAINE MORNING STAR • March 15, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills and state congressional leaders on Friday praised a decision by a federal agency to exclude an important lobster fishing ground from the area in the Gulf of Maine that will be leased for offshore wind development. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Friday released its final designated Wind Energy Area for the Gulf of Maine, which the agency said could ultimately support the generation of 32 gigawatts of clean energy. The area excludes the entirety of Lobster Management Area 1, which is a crucial fishing ground for Maine’s lobster industry.

Biden officials mull quicker death for U.S. coal power plants

BLOOMBERG • March 15, 2024

U.S. coal-fired power plants could be forced to shut down two years sooner than envisioned under a Biden administration plan to stifle pollution from the electricity sector. The potential change being seriously considered now by administration officials would accelerate the required retirement date for coal plants that opt against installing carbon-removal technology at the sites. That would be a tougher approach than what the Environmental Protection Agency outlined in an initial proposal last year that would give companies until 2040 to shutter the sites.

Opinion: Let Maine people decide on the Maine trails bond

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 15, 2024

Trails are critical to our way of life and our economic future. The the proposed $30 million trails bond represents an investment in that future. I urge lawmakers to help us realize this vision by placing the Maine trails bond on the November ballot. Let Maine voters decide if we want outstanding trails for all types of uses to be a bigger part of Maine’s future. ~ Angela Arno, Piscataquis County Economic Development Council

Editorial: Warm winter yet another warning about climate change

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 15, 2024

For many parts of Maine this year, winter is already a distant memory. Without significant changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally — and quickly — winters in Maine are likely to keep changing. February’s snowfall in Bangor was the smallest on record since 1926, when official tallies began. In January, coastal Maine was hit by back-to-back wind and rainstorms that swept away buildings, eroded beach fronts and closed parks. Not only was 2023 the warmest year in NOAA’s 174-year climate record — it was the warmest by far. Scientists have been warning for years that urgent action is needed to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Relatively snowless winters, winter floods and rising ocean temperatures are more evidence that we need to do much more before it is too late.

Feds announce 2 million-acre site in Gulf of Maine for offshore floating wind project

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 15, 2024

Federal environmental officials announced Friday their selection of a 2-million acre site off the coasts of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire for an offshore floating wind project. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the site, about 23 miles to 92 miles off the coast, is 80% smaller than its initially planned wind energy area after consulting with tribes, local residents, the fishing community and others. The new area avoids conflicts with lobster fishing, North Atlantic right whale habitat and other fishing areas and habitats and seeks to avoid most of the historical and present-day fishing grounds of the tribes, the agency said.

Federal government chooses final area in Gulf of Maine for offshore wind development

MAINE PUBLIC • March 15, 2024

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has identified the area in the Gulf of Maine that can be developed for offshore wind. The area covers 2 million acres offshore from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, ranging anywhere from 23 to 92 miles off the coast, BOEM said Friday. Virginia Olsen of the Maine Lobstering Union said she's pleased that federal officials avoided most of Lobster Management Area 1, one of the most popular fishing regions, and two out of three additional areas that had been eyed as potential spots for development but were opposed by fishermen. BOEM said it will begin to prepare an environmental assessment about the impacts of offshore wind development in the area.

Feds announce areas where offshore wind can go in Gulf of Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 15, 2024

Federal regulators have made a final designation of roughly 2 million acres in the Gulf of Maine where offshore wind turbines can be deployed to help provide power to New England. The boundary set by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management does not include any part of the federal lobster management area 1. The Maine Lobstermen’s Association said Friday that it appreciates that the fishing zone is excluded from the wind area approved by BOEM. But it said that it remains “steadfast” in its position that industrial wind power development does not belong anywhere in the Gulf of Maine. A coalition of Maine environmental groups and construction-trade unions on Friday said the decision is good for fishermen, workers and the environment.

New scorecard rates nation’s grid managers on connecting renewables

MAINE MORNING STAR • March 15, 2024

In the queues run by the organizations that manage the electric grid in much of the nation, more than two million megawatts of potential new power sources, chiefly solar, wind and batteries, are languishing awaiting interconnection studies. “Interconnection customers report that in some areas, projects can move through to completion in 2 years, which is consistent with ISO-NE’s official timeline,” the report says “However, interconnection customers noted that two areas in ISO-NE can take longer: southeast Massachusetts and Maine.”