U.S. offers state a lease to research offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 28, 2024

Federal officials on Tuesday offered Maine a lease to research offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine, moving the state closer to establishing a presence in the budding zero-carbon energy industry. The site is southeast of Portland, 28 nautical miles off the coast. If developed, it will include up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines generating up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the lease, site assessment and related activities would have no significant impact on the environment. When the bureau announced a larger, 2 million acre site in March, it generally won praise, with some calls for greater protection of habitats and fishing areas. The agency said that area is 80% smaller than its initially planned wind energy area after consulting with tribes, local residents, the fishing community and others.

Hollywood movies rarely reflect climate change, Colby researchers find

ASSOCIATED PRESS • May 28, 2024

Researchers at Maine’s Colby College have published a study to determine if today’s Hollywood blockbusters are reflective of the current climate crisis. “The top line is just that the vast majority of films, popular films produced over the last 10 years in the United States, are not portraying the world as it is,” Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, lead researcher, said. “They are portraying a world that is now history or fantasy — a world in which climate change is not happening.”

Maine gets greenlight for landmark floating offshore wind research array

MAINE MORNING STAR • May 28, 2024

Maine has gotten the green light to develop the nation’s first floating offshore wind research site in federal waters. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management offered a research lease to Maine last Friday for a floating offshore wind research array in the Gulf of Maine after an environmental assessment found the proposal would have no significant environmental impacts, according to an announcement Tuesday. 

Outdoor Learning Initiative expands to reach more Maine students

MAINE PUBLIC • May 28, 2024

Four thousand middle and high school students this year will take part in the Outdoor Learning Initiative, a federally funded program that brings low-income children together to learn about the wilds and waters of Maine. The Mills administration launched the Initiative two years ago. Because of high demand, the program is being expanded with more than $6 million. Chewonki will host 50 students in its Maine Rivers, Trails and Waves Program this summer, an increase of 30 students from last year. During two-week adventures, the kids will canoe the Allagash, or hike Katahdin, or sea kayak around Mount Desert Island.

Opinion: Maine needs to hold big polluters accountable

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 28, 2024

The climate crisis is accelerating. Our state’s infrastructure faces unprecedented threats from increasing storm surges, high winds, flooding and erosion. Fortifying against these threats must include holding major polluters accountable for their role in climate destabilization. High-emission corporations such as ExxonMobil bear financial responsibility for the costs associated with extreme weather damage. Maine should pass legislation to ensure those most responsible for the crisis are also responsible for footing the bill. Maine had a chance to start this process with An Act to Assess Impact Fees on Megayachts. This legislation could have generated millions of dollars for vital climate mitigation infrastructure and harbor projects. Also, the companies that operate cruise ships should be required to invest in the infrastructure they use during up and down the Maine coast. ~ Rep. Grayson Lookner, Portland

What are those beautiful neon pink slime balls in the Maine woods?

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 28, 2024

I’ve been wandering the Maine woods since I was a little girl. I’ve become familiar with its flora and fauna. Yet the wilderness keeps surprising me with things I’ve never seen before — like neon pink slime mold. Slime molds aren’t fungi or lichens. They’re single-celled organisms that move around, similar to an amoeba. At that stage, they’re too small for people to see. But sometimes, they congregate to form threads and fruiting bodies that resemble mushrooms. Hundreds of slime mold species have been documented throughout the world. Slime molds play an important role in the ecosystem. Often found on decaying forest litter and rotting wood, they serve as decomposers and recycle nutrients. They feed on bacteria, which decomposes plant matter. They also serve as food for worms, beetles and other creepy crawlies.

Baxter State Park is the crown jewel of Maine's public lands

WCVB • May 27, 2024

Baxter State Park is truly the crown jewel of Maine’s public lands. Just north of the Golden Road. Nearby, the New England Outdoor Center is a full-service wilderness resort, featuring lakeside cabins, eco-lodges, a restaurant to go along with its rafting, mountain biking and wildlife tours. In the winter, the center offers skiing, snowmobiling and other winter adventures.

Opinion: Flying is getting more turbulent. Climate change is partly to blame.

BLOOMBERG • May 25, 2024

As our planet’s atmosphere warms, wind shears — variations in wind direction or speed — within jet streams are increasing and strengthening clear-air turbulence. A 2021 report from the National Transportation Safety Board made 24 recommendations aimed at reducing the incidence of turbulence accidents and associated injuries. More significant investments should also be made into remote sensing of CAT and improved forecasts. On the detection front, there’s promise being found in updated radar systems, including laser-based radar (also known as lidar), as well as a new type of infrasound microphone developed by NASA. Any investments will be worth it for the safety and comfort of passengers alone, but aviation executives will also be happy to know that the investments could lead to savings — or at least stop potential losses escalating. ~ Lara Williams

More Maine farmers are working together to sell their products

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 26, 2024

Lobster, dairy and grain cooperatives have long been present in Maine, but a new crop of farmers is bringing collaborative business models to flowers, medicinal plants, online markets, compost and even farms themselves. Those involved in these types of businesses say they’ve seen an increased interest in many forms of group agricultural ventures as Maine’s farms get smaller but running them remains expensive and risky. Pooling resources gives farmers more time, saves them money and provides access to markets they couldn’t reach alone.

Bath educator recognized for work in environmental education

TIMES RECORD • May 26, 2024

A teacher at Bath’s Brightfield School has received an award recognizing her efforts in environmental education. Lorna Fake received the Eberhard Thiele Environmental Educator Award on May 10, when educators and students from across Maine were recognized for their contributions to Maine’s environmental educational ecosystem during the Maine Environmental Education Annual Awards Ceremony at Maine Academy of Natural Sciences in Hinckley. Fake, a first- and second-grade teacher at Brightfield School, won the Eberhard Award for being an environmental educator who works outside the formal classroom setting and incorporates environmental education into her hands-on lessons.

Column: Measuring impact of eclipse, aurora on wildlife a difficult task

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • May 26, 2024

Between the solar eclipse in April and aurora in May, this has been an exciting spring for getting people outdoors and looking up to the skies. There was a lot of hype leading up to the eclipse and a lot of excitement about the aurora, so let’s dig in to both and talk about the effects of these, if any, on wildlife. The eclipse itself was obviously incredible, but the timing may have lessened some of the reactions we were expecting to see from Maine’s wildlife. The magnetic storm that produced the vibrant colors of the aurora was reported as the strongest to hit Earth since October 2003. Earth being bombarded during a magnetic storm would have some effect on our birds. A paper published last fall reported that during space weather events there is a “9 to 17 percent reduction in migration.” ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox

Editorial: Maine tourism can complete ‘pandemic rebound’ in 2024

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • May 26, 2024

Last year, nearly 15.3 million tourists came to the state. They spent $9.1 million. All told, 2023’s tourists kicked $16.4 billion into Maine’s economy. There’s no reason to expect that this year will be different – and people in the industry are feeling optimistic. Maine has long been the beneficiary of a trend called “slow travel,” where visitors select their destination with longer and more involved stays in mind – stays that are then more lucrative for local economies. Visitors’ tendency to “immerse” themselves in Maine, unlike in other U.S. hot spots. Standing in the way of a full recovery to prepandemic health, however, is the now-chronic labor shortage. Increasing temporary nonagricultural worker visas (H-2Bs) and sensible reform of asylum seeker work authorization are absolutely critical.

What you should know if ATV trails run through your land in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 26, 2024

There are more than 18,000 miles of combined snowmobile and ATV trails in the state. For new landowners or people who want to buy land, the Maine tradition of open access for recreation can come as a bit of a surprise. It can leave them wondering what liability or nuisance issues may arise, and if it’s worth it. Outdoor enthusiasts and officials say the pros far outway the cons. For one thing, landowners are protected by state law.

Giant snails and other small wonders to seek while hiking in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 25, 2024

When observing nature, so much depends on perspective. The more time I spend in the wilderness, the more I’m intrigued by the small things: the snails and dainty wildflowers and tiny mushrooms. When hiking, my eyes are often on the ground, and not just so I don’t trip over roots and rocks. I’m looking for the miniscule things in nature that I adore, and hoping to discover more. Maine is home to more than 70 species of terrestrial snails, according to the paper “Terrestrial snails and slugs of Maine,” written by Scott M. Martin and published by Northeastern Naturalist in 2000.

Scenic section of downeast trail reopens

MAINE MORNING STAR • May 25, 2024

The dike portion of the storm-damaged Down East Sunrise Trail in Machias was repaired this week, again allowing ATV riders and recreational users to connect with the undamaged, farthest east parts of the trail. Although many of the state’s ATV trails remain closed due to storm damage, the Sunrise Trail officially opened earlier this month, but dike erosion and six culvert washouts created a roughly two-mile gap, cutting off what some say is the most scenic part of the trail.

Letter: Gorham bypass not the answer

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 25, 2024

The Maine Turnpike Authority’s plan to build a turnpike spur through Gorham/Scarborough is a bad idea. The 3/4-mile long section of Route 22 between the two Route 114 intersections has historically caused a traffic logjam heading into Portland in the morning and toward Buxton and beyond in the evening. Traffic thins out in either direction as soon as it gets through that bottleneck and cars split off. The archaic plan of a turnpike spur from Gorham to Scarborough (through Smiling Hill Farm) will not address this. The spur will cut through the farm’s land and destroy natural habitats while in no way alleviating the traffic on Route 22 heading into and out of Portland. ~ Lisa King, Gorham

Opinion: Climate crisis is worsening homelessness, substance use disorder

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 25, 2024

I just graduated from Bates College in Lewiston. During my time at Bates, I often went to Lewiston’s downtown skatepark, where I met with several young people. I learned a lot about their lives and struggles, especially those related to homelessness and substance use. Many of these individuals shared heartbreaking stories of friends and family lost to overdose or living on the streets. This firsthand experience highlighted how the climate crisis is making the challenges of drug abuse and homelessness even worse. The interconnectedness of homelessness, substance use, and the climate crisis requires legislative responses that are interconnected. Policies need to transcend traditional boundaries of public health, urban planning, and environmental protection to address the root causes, especially the reality of the climate crisis. ~ Anders Corey, Yarmouth

Augusta officials move closer toward $18.2 million expansion of Hatch Hill landfill to extend capacity another 14 years

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • May 24, 2024

With the Hatch Hill landfill expected to be full within four years, the city has submitted an application to build an $18.2 million vertical expansion. At current usage rates, that would give the city-owned landfill another 14 years of use. But city officials may seek to extend that lifespan even further to ensure residents have a place to take their trash, on the relative cheap. Doing so could mean the eight surrounding communities that also can send their trash to Hatch Hill would have to find somewhere else to take their trash.

Biden declares April storm disaster for Cumberland, York counties, making $3.5 million available for repairs

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 24, 2024

President Biden has approved Maine’s request for a major disaster declaration to help Cumberland and York counties recover from the severe winter storm in April that caused damage estimated at more than $3.5 million. The declaration, announced Friday by Gov. Janet Mills, makes assistance available to help cover the costs of debris removal and repairs to roads, bridges and other public works.

Letter: Maine has a chance to fight climate change

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 24, 2024

I’ve been an activist working to fight climate change for more than a decade, and as a grandfather-to-be, I don’t just want to let things keep going down the wrong path. The time to act on climate change is now. Maine has a real chance to fight back against climate change with offshore wind power. We know the damage fossil fuels are causing — and we have the power to move our state to renewable energy with clean, sustainable offshore wind. It’s one of the best things we can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but we need to act now. ~ Gary Friedmann, Bar Harbor