Biden requires automakers to ramp up electric, hybrid vehicles in his most ambitious climate plan yet

ASSOCIATED PRESS • March 20, 2024

The Biden administration announced new automobile emissions standards Wednesday that officials called the most ambitious plan ever to cut planet-warming emissions from passenger vehicles. The new rules relax initial tailpipe limits proposed last year but eventually get close to the same strict standards set out by the Environmental Protection Agency. The new standards will avoid more than 7 billion tons of planet-warming carbon emissions over the next three decades and provide nearly $100 billion in annual net benefits, the EPA said.

Opinion: Offshore wind makes sense for Maine, but at Mack Point

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 20, 2024

Now that Gov. Janet Mills has announced that Sears Island is the preferred site for Maine’s wind port, many people are asking how they can help defend the island from development. Our position has been that if a wind port is needed in Penobscot Bay, it should be built on Mack Point, not Sears Island. We still believe this. Mack Point has the required 100 acres, it has been an industrial site for more than a century, the owner welcomes the development, and per the 2007 Sears Island Planning Initiative Consensus Agreement, the state is obligated to give “preference” to developing Mack Point over Sears Island. Now Mills has submitted a bill that would allow a permit for a wind port located in a protected “coastal sand dune system” on Sears Island. We fully support Maine’s plan to develop floating offshore wind as a key part of the state’s effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but we continue to believe the port that will make that possible must be located on Mack Point. ~ Rolf Olsen, Friends of Sears Island

Gorham’s Bobcat Betty recovering from injuries

AMERICAN JOURNAL • March 20, 2024

The bobcat severely injured when hit by a car earlier this month in Gorham will require six more weeks of rehab. The bobcat was taken to the Saco River Wildlife Center in Limington and then to Norway Veterinary Hospital for X-rays. She suffered a fractured leg bone and pelvis and was severely anemic and had lung contusions. When she’s fully recovered, she likely will be released back in Gorham.

Spring starts off with a winter storm watch and snowfall

NEWS CENTER MAINE • March 20, 2024

Most of us will see on-and-off rain showers Wednesday, but if you live a little farther north, temperatures will stay cold enough to allow for some scattered snow showers. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the eastern half of the state, which shows we’re expecting some decent snowfall.

Opinion: PFAS law will hinder Maine’s climate efforts

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 20, 2024

Over the last several years, Maine has taken a leadership role in addressing greenhouse gas emissions through the installation of renewable electricity and in adopting air-source heat pumps to displace carbon-intensive heating fuels. However, all of this is predicated on technologies from heat pumps and advanced refrigeration. The Maine State Chamber is concerned that, unchanged, the PFAS law the Legislature passed in 2021 will hinder Maine’s climate action efforts and stand in the way of its ability to meet important goals, including installing 275,000 high-efficiency heat pumps by 2027. ~ Linda Caprara, Maine State Chamber of Commerce

Column: This is the best kept winter mountaineering secret in Baxter State Park

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 20, 2024

Perhaps the best kept winter mountaineering secret in Baxter State Park is South Branch Pond. Whether there would be adequate snow to ski into the pond was a concern. History told us snowfall through the winter would result in hefty accumulations by early March. Not this year. The park received record low snow amounts and unusually heavy rainfall. Most of us hired Matagamon Campground just outside of the park to shuttle our gear by snowmobile on the park Perimeter Road as far as the beginning of South Branch Pond Road. After the snowmobile and trailer departed with our sleds and gear, we began the 11 mile journey to South Branch Pond Road. Our plan was to haul gear on sleds for the remaining 2.2 miles. Rangers advised against skiing or snowshoeing on the pond because it was heavily puddled and thin in places. That eliminated the possibility of a coveted ski south on the winter Pogy Trail. Mountaineering would be our focus. ~ Ron Chase

Climate change is making allergy season more dangerous for some children

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 20, 2024

Since 1970, allergy season in 138 U.S. cities has expanded by at least seven days, including in Portland and Presque Isle, according to an analysis released Wednesday by Climate Central, a science and journalism nonprofit. That means children who are still developing will experience longer and more intense exposure to seasonal allergens, driving up discomfort and emergency department visits. Nearly one in five U.S. children suffers from seasonal allergies, and almost 9 percent suffer from asthma. In Maine, some 18,000 children 18 and younger suffer from asthma, or about 9 percent of that population. An increasing contributor is the carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, which makes plants produce more pollen, warms the planet and extends the growing and allergy seasons.

Owner of sunken historic fishing boat leaking fuel off Maine’s coast has been charged

CBS 13 • March 19, 2024

The owner of a sunken 80-foot-long fishing boat that’s sitting at the bottom of New Meadows River in Harpswell and leaking oil is now facing charges. The boat, the sardine carrier Jacob Pike, sank in Harpswell during January’s twin storms and record-high tides. The harbormaster hasn’t received a plan yet for raising and disposing of the sunken boat. The town is summonsing the boat’s owner, Cyrus Cleary, for the crime of abandonment of a watercraft. Cleary could be fined the cost of removal plus 50 percent of that cost.

Maine gets first application from a farmer who wants to sell contaminated farmland

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

The state began accepting applications for assistance from commercial farmers impacted by forever chemicals on Monday and it has already received an application from a farmer who wants Maine to buy their contaminated farmland. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry isn’t releasing any details about the first application for a share of a $70 million Fund to Address PFAS Contamination.

World Monument Fund will consider designating Maine’s lighthouses as threatened heritage sites

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2024

Having suffered millions in damages from this winter's coastal storms, the World Monument Fund (WMF) will consider designating Maine’s lighthouses as threatened heritage sites. Maine Preservation — a non-profit dedicated to preserving Maine's historic sites — submitted the proposal in conjunction with the American Lighthouse Association. The groups say the December and January storms caused millions in damages to the lighthouses caused by high winds and powerful waves.

UMaine to livestream total solar eclipse with high-altitude weather balloon

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2024

About 10 students from the University of Maine are preparing to launch a high altitude weather balloon that will livestream the total solar eclipse from the stratosphere on April 8. The balloon, which has a parachute attached and can expand up to 40 feet in diameter in the air, will launch about an hour or two before totality. It will travel above the clouds at up to 90,000 feet. The camera on board will capture the eclipse, though Eason said the group is hoping for clear skies.

Comp plan update ready for Yarmouth residents’ review

FORECASTER • March 19, 2024

After more than a year of working on it, the Yarmouth Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will present a draft of its proposed update to the Planning Board next week. Residents have until April 30 to provide feedback on the plan. Components of the plan come from the town’s Future Land Use Plan that addresses zoning, land preservation and public investments, and the upcoming Climate Action Plan’s sustainability and resilience goals and policies.

Campaign to Protect Sears Island/Wahsumkik, March 24

FRIENDS OF SEARS ISLAND • March 19, 2024

Those interested in preventing a 100-acre manufacturing facility for floating wind turbines from being built on Sears Island (Searsport, ME) will gather to discuss what can be done to protect this special place. At Legion Hall, 143 Church St., Belfast, March 24, 2-5 pm meeting, 5-6pm potluck dinner, 6-9pm live music by the Midnight Riders.

Birding becomes an unexpected balm for the soul in UVM professor’s new book

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2024

Trish O’Kane’s new memoir “Birding to Change the World,” traces her journey to becoming an educator and creating the birding program of the same name. The 61-year-old grew up in southern California and was a journalist for 15 years. After finishing the spring semester at Loyola, O’Kane — still recovering from the emotional toll of Katrina as well as the decline of her father’s health from cancer — moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to begin working toward a Ph.D in environmental studies. “And then I discovered the birds,” O’Kane said. “And I discovered people who love the birds. “For me, this joy and the birds and the children — it's our renewable, sustainable fuel for our souls,” O’Kane said.

Opinion: No longer in denial, I’m grieving the loss of Maine winter

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

Trying to accept the news that winter was dying was very like the grieving process. As the evidence has mounted, I’ve been in denial: This is a fluke, next year will be better, more “normal.” But this past year has made it impossible to pretend. The Summer That Wasn’t – weeks of seemingly daily rain or fog – was followed by the Fall That Wasn’t, the hoped-for brilliant foliage dulled by the summer rain. And now, the Winter That Wasn’t. I’ve gotten past denial. I’m sad, deeply sad. I’m also angry at those who’ve been so busy calling climate change a hoax. I’m tired of having to bargain over the deteriorating health of our planet and I will never, ever accept it. ~ Amy MacDonald, Portland in winter, Vinalhaven in summer

Opinion: MainePERS has the means to divest, but not the will

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

The effects of our changing climate are having a big impact, and yet in many ways it is business as usual. In 2021, in recognition of the climate crisis, the Maine Legislature passed a law requiring the state’s public pension fund, the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies by 2026. However, not only will MainePERS not meet the 2026 target date, they will not even be making substantial progress. When it comes to comes to moving away from fossil fuels, the response is that we are too small to be leaders; we are followers. I disagree. MainePERS’ most recent divestment report lists its fossil fuel exposure to be greater than $1.2 billion. To change our trajectory on climate change impacts, it will take bold action, not the kind of inaction displayed by MainePERS leadership. ~ Don Witherill retired after 42 years with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Letter: Vote like the Earth depends on it

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

Is there any Mainer who has not been impacted by global warming in 2023/2024? What can we do? Vote like the Earth depends upon it. Maine primaries for the state Legislature and U.S. Senate and House will be held on June 11. Register to vote. Try to attend a candidate town hall or campaign event. Ask candidates what climate policies they support. Check out their websites to see what they say about environment and energy. We must make climate our highest priority. Vote! ~ Dorothy Jones, Brunswick

Column: Maine’s forests are filling with the songs of lovesick birds

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 19, 2024

There are nearly 300 breeding birds in Maine, and they’re all about to have sex. That means the woods are about to get loud with song, as the birds go about the business of attracting mates and defending territories. These 300 birds do not settle down randomly. Each one has a specific habitat preference. Once they’re done moving around during migration, you can safely assume that if you hear a bird on territory, the territory contains the habitat the bird prefers. Your yard, your neighborhood, up-ta-camp — each one has its own unique sound. In about three weeks, my own yard will start telling me that I have tall pines (pine warblers), mature trees (black-throated green warblers, northern parula, red-eyed vireos), mixed hardwood and softwood (both white-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches, plus blue-headed vireos), plenty of woodpecker cavities (great-crested flycatcher) and lots of open edges (chipping sparrows). What will your yard tell you? ~ Bob Duchesne

Aroostook County landfill cuts towns a break on blighted buildings

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 19, 2024

On March 1, Aroostook Waste Solutions, co-owned by Caribou, Limestone, Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle, began a pilot program aimed at decreasing the financial burden of blight. Municipalities do not have to pay tipping fees for demolition debris brought to Tri-Community Landfill in Fort Fairfield, so long as they do not exceed 500 total tons of debris, divided among the four communities.

Nominations sought for Bicknell Award for birding conservation

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • March 19, 2024

The sixth Rangeley Birding Festival, set for Friday to Sunday, June 7-9, will announce and present the John Bicknell Award for Conservation and Birding. The award honors the legacy of Bicknell, a Rangeley resident who has been recognized for environmental stewardship by Audubon International. The Bicknell Award acknowledges those individuals who have worked to further birding and conserve bird habitats in Maine. Nominations are due by May 1.