Maine regulators order audit of Versant Power after multiple rate increases

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 5, 2024

Maine regulators have ordered a broad audit of the state’s second-largest electric utility, citing unspecified “questions and concerns” related to rate increases and other actions. The Public Utilities Commission did not say precisely why it directed the audit of Versant Power on May 29. It cited four cases before the agency, including two for distribution rate increases that Versant says are needed to improve service and bolster operations. The utility serves 165,000 customers in northern and eastern Maine.

Scammers are trying to sell Mainers’ land without their knowledge

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 5, 2024

Deed fraud is an increasingly common real estate scam plaguing landowners in polar ends of Maine and across the country. It consists of so-called “title pirates” using forged deeds and identification documents to dupe real estate agents into selling other people’s vacant land, often at below market rates and in cash. Most attention around deed fraud in Maine has been focused on York County, where 12 separate instances had been reported to the county sheriff’s office as of March. But Mainers with land in more rural areas are being targeted, too.

World Environment Day 2024

UNITED NATIONS • June 5, 2024

World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. It is celebrated by millions of people across the world. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024 with a focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. Land restoration is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world.

Keeping ticks out of your yard requires a precise attack plan

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2024

While it may never be possible to completely eliminate ticks from the landscape, there are steps people can take to help control tick populations in backyards or around their property. Options for dealing with ticks include chemical pesticides, natural repellants, fencing, habitat modification and importing domestic birds known to dine on ticks. One resident is preparing to burn parts of her land to reduce the tick population. “These natural products tend to be much less effective than our established conventional pesticides,” said Griffin Dill, manager of the University of Maine Tick Lab. “They can play a part in an integrated tick plan, but if you are just going to spray natural ingredients, you are going to have less effects.”

Column: You, too, can plant a tree … or three

CENTRAL MAINE • June 4, 2024

Twenty years ago, I bought three trees. The white pine, the oak, and the maple all fit in my Toyota Corolla Wagon. Now, with 15 years of volunteer conservation work under my belt, I know I was making a radical environmental statement. I had planted three small ecosystems where birds, mammals, insects, moss, lichens, and micro-organisms thrive. Everything in those ecosystems has contributed to a healthier planet. We need heroic action more than ever before. If you’ve never been involved in conservation, this is your chance to come to the rescue. Planting trees can’t reverse or help all the damage of extreme weather. But it helps an awful lot. Please help. It’s easy. ~ Doug “Woody” Woodsum

Sierra Club report defends New England offshore Wind

MAINE PUBLIC • June 4, 2024

Developing New England's offshore wind power will lower electric bills and limit the region's exposure to natural gas price swings, according to a new report from the Sierra Club. The analysis, released Tuesday, suggests that building nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 could halve New England's spending on natural gas to produce electricity. Ratepayers could save up to $55 a year with new wind power which would also eliminate huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.

Congress weighs delaying farm bill over SNAP and climate disputes

WASHINGTON POST • June 4, 2024

A battle that ties food aid for needy families with crop subsidies for American farmers may stall efforts to renew a sweeping agricultural policy law, forcing Congress to consider delaying action on the $1.5 trillion proposal until after this fall’s elections.The law, known as the farm bill, is set to expire Sept. 30. It typically draws bipartisan support because it combines resources for such programs as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for low-income families with updates to farm supports, including commodity price guarantees and crop insurance. This year, however, the Republican-controlled House is writing a version of the bill that would spend less on future low-income food assistance and more on large-scale commodity farmers, while the Democratic-controlled Senate is mulling a proposal to do the opposite.

Rangeley’s Saddleback Mountain receives BirdSafe Maine award

SUN JOURNAL • June 4, 2024

Saddleback Mountain is the recipient of an inaugural BirdSafe Maine award for environmentally conscious design at its new midmountain restaurant, The Nest. Saddleback is home to the rare Bicknell’s thrush, a small bird that inhabits dense alpine forests at high elevations. In constructing The Nest, Saddleback worked closely with Maine Audubon and Davies Toews Architecture to design innovative bird deflection screens.

Portland Water District joins lawsuit against forever chemical manufacturers

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 4, 2024

Maine’s largest water district has filed a lawsuit against Dupont, 3M and other manufacturers of so-called forever chemicals to hold them responsible for the cost of testing and treating polluted wastewater. “Protecting public health, safety, and the environment is (our) top priority,” said general manager Seth Garrison. “By taking legal action against manufacturers of PFAS, Portland Water District is holding accountable those responsible for pollution.”

Brunswick ups oversight of development at former air station

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2024

The Brunswick Town Council has approved new zoning rules that are meant to give residents and officials more oversight of development around Brunswick Landing, as new commercial and industrial projects have been proposed in an area that’s also seen lots of housing construction. Hundreds of new housing units have been constructed on Brunswick Landing since 2017. At the same time, there are a few larger scale projects happening in the area, which used to be Naval Air Station Brunswick. The projects include an expansion of STARC Systems, a local company that manufactures temporary walls, and the proposed conversion of an existing biodigester that aims to convert organic waste into natural gas — including taking in some materials that could be contaminated with PFAS chemicals.

A beginner’s guide to camping in a tent in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2024

Camping in a tent is an activity that many people look forward to each summer. It’s an opportunity to embrace the outdoors, unwind, relax and live simply. But certain aspects of tenting can be challenging. These tips and tricks for camping in a tent will help beginners try it without fear.
• Your mode of transportation will dictate supplies
• Get to know your tent ahead of time
• Know the campsite rules
• Put thought into your spot
• Shield yourself from water
• A comfortable bed is key
• Plan to get up at night
• Keep food and fire away
• Keep your tent zipped up tight
• Air your tent out on hot days and starry nights
• Small touches can go a long way

USDA aims to aid small farmers by barring pay deductions from poultry companies

MAINE MORNING STAR • June 4, 2024

A rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would eliminate pay deductions for chicken producers, Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday. Under the current poultry payment system, companies contract with producers to supply broiler chicks, feed, and veterinary care and then it’s up to the farmers to raise healthy, substantial chickens at a mutually agreed price. But companies can also deduct pay from producers’ base pay based on that year’s market. The proposed rule would prohibit companies from deducting that pay. There are roughly 260 farms in Maine that sell broilers and other meat chickens, the vast majority of which are small producers.

Letter: Less mowing doesn’t mean more ticks

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2024

The CDC says it. Cooperative Extensions all over say it. The neighbor says it when you don’t mow. Long grass equals ticks. However, the research that has been done in recent years on the effect of decreased lawn mowing on tick prevalence is clear to me — there is no relationship between grass length and tick presence. So, can we call this myth done and stop crying “tick” every time people choose to let their lawns grow? It would be worthwhile to do so since there is plenty of evidence showing the benefits of less intensive mowing for biodiversity, air pollution, and more. ~ Rachel Smith, Orono

Column: A little hope on climate change

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2024

Interviewing 100 climate scientists is a crash course in coping strategies. Most of are suffering from quiet desperation, because they know what’s going to happen and they can’t seem to change it. Yet after all those interviews I have come away with some hope for the future. We’re still in the deepest trouble imaginable. But it has got a bit better: five years ago everybody was still pretending that we were going to fix all this just by cutting our greenhouse gas emissions. It was a complete fantasy. The lost time hasn’t been entirely wasted. Solar and wind power have grown faster than anybody dared hope 10 years ago. There are about a dozen feedbacks. The good news is that there are promising ideas for how to hold it down, because they will probably be needed. It will be a long, hard slog, but we are not yet doomed. ~ Gwynne Dyer

Hoax call sends Coast Guard on hours-long search of Casco Bay

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2024

The U.S. Coast Guard spent several hours searching Casco Bay on Friday afternoon after receiving a set of hoax distress calls. The agency received multiple calls around 4:30 p.m. about a vessel that was in distress in the vicinity of Long Island, off Portland.

Auburn may tinker with zoning again at Gracelawn Road parcel

SUN JOURNAL • June 3, 2024

The City Council has formally asked the Planning Board to weigh in on yet another zoning change at the Gracelawn Road parcel owned by John Gendron. This time, the proposal would shift 45 acres to the multifamily suburban zoning district, which officials said is more in line with the Comprehensive Plan, and retains the ability for housing to be developed while limiting certain commercial uses. The City Council previously rezoned 60 acres of Gendron’s land between Gracelawn Road and Lake Auburn to the general business zoning. At one time, Gendron eyed a 1,100-unit development on the 88-acre site, but the proposal set off a communitywide debate over water quality.

If you see a loon do this, leave it alone

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2024

Hearing the haunting call of a common loon echoing across the water can be exhilarating. However, it’s important to recognize some of the key signs that indicate an activity might be disturbing these majestic birds. Signs of agitation include a loon performing the “penguin dance,” in which the bird seemingly stands up in the water and approaches you in an aggressive way. It might make its “yodel” call, which males use to defend territory. Also, the “tremolo” call often is the result of an annoyed or alarmed bird. Watercraft must travel at or under headway speed and leave no wake within 200 feet of any shoreline. Maine law prohibits the use or sale of lead sinkers that weigh one ounce or less or are not more than 2 1/2 inches long and the state has banned the use of bare-headed jigs of those same measurements. A 25-year study determined that ingestion of lead fishing equipment was responsible for a third of all adult loon deaths in the state.

New England grid operator says it’s prepared for peak electricity demands this summer

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 3, 2024

New England’s grid operator said Monday that the region has enough electricity to meet demand this summer but warned that an extended heat wave with high humidity resulting in the extensive use of air conditioners could force it to ask customers to use less power or impose controlled outages, measures it would take only as a last resort. Hotter than average weather, such as an extended heat wave and high humidity, could push demand up to 26,383 MW, a nearly 7.5% increase that would reduce supply margins.

Guest column: A glimpse into the world of whales

MORNING SENTINEL • June 3, 2024

If the wind doesn’t take your breath away, the whales will. I learned this while on the catamaran that took our curious group on a half-day trip into Canadian waters, 60 miles into the Gulf of Maine. We’d have a chance to see something extraordinary — whales! Soon there was movement in the water around us. It got quiet — we waited. People gasped as a humpback whale made a huge splash off the bow. Humpback whales in the Northern Hemisphere reach an average length of 49 to 52 feet. The average weight of a mature adult is 50,000 to 80,000 pounds. ~ Rich Abrahamson

Woodfords Corner Farmers Market peddles community spirit along with produce

FORECASTER • June 3, 2024

Woodfords Corner Farmers Market opened for its second season last week and will be up and running from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Oct. 24. Launched last year by Friends of Woodfords Corner, the market has seven weekly and nine biweekly vendors, as well as entertainment and other activities. The market creates a local space for connection between farmers and neighbors.