CMP electricity rates are going up. Here’s what’s driving it.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 5, 2024

Starting this month, Central Maine Power Co. customers are paying an average of $15.56 more a month – a 12.6% increase – for storm cleanup, renewable power, and incentives for electric heat pumps and electric vehicles. The higher rates were approved in separate cases by the Maine Public Utilities Commission in recent weeks, but to a large extent, the increased charges reflect public policy set by the Legislature. The largest share of the increased rate – more than $10 for the average customer – is to reimburse CMP $220 million for cleanup following destructive storms in 2022 and 2023.

Smiling Hill Farm’s historic legacy could foil Gorham Connector plan

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 5, 2024

The Maine Turnpike Authority has known for years that the farm was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places – but has never publicly disclosed that or its potential impact on the controversial highway project. Being eligible for or listed on the national register doesn’t automatically block development of the 304-year-old farm, according to preservation experts. But it does allow the Knight family to request a seat at the table when the Army Corps of Engineers reviews the authority’s application for a critical environmental permit. And it could give the federal agency fodder to force the authority to alter its preferred route for the 5-mile, four-lane spur.

Letter: No kicking the can on climate change

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 5, 2024

In his June 22 opinion piece, Roy Matthews gets one thing right: Mainers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for the state’s transition to carbon-neutral energy. But that’s the only part he’s right about. He says that because clean energy won’t stop the storms tomorrow, we shouldn’t bother doing the responsible thing: switching to wind and solar. Instead, he proposes buying the cheapest energy possible. No reasonable person thinks switching to clean energy today will stop climate change tomorrow. It’s not about us. It’s about our children and grandchildren. We have a chance now to curb the damage and leave something for the next generations. It’s going to be slow, but it’s worth it. ~ Michael Trombley, Windham

Letter: Investing in clean energy worth the cost

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 5, 2024

Reading Roy Mathews’ June 22 opinion piece on Maine’s green energy initiatives left me very concerned. Yes, rate hikes sting, especially considering today’s economic climate and government needs to reduce consumer hikes by placing more rate burden on fossil fuel producers. But dismissing the urgent need for a clean energy transition shows a disregard for the long-term survivability of our planet. Maine’s climate action plan is not just about today’s bill; it’s about future-proofing a state I love to visit against catastrophic climate impacts. We can’t afford to turn back now. Clean energy is an investment in a livable planet. ~ Marvin Berkowitz, Needham, Mass.

Why this unusual well design could be the future in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 5, 2024

The shallow well design, being researched and tested by state scientists on Maine farms, could provide the water storage and quality needed as drought seasons become more frequent. The patented design is 50 to 75 percent cheaper to install than a drilled bedrock well and is newly licensed for distribution. Maine farmers typically don’t have water storage infrastructure because they haven’t historically needed it, but with droughts becoming common, researchers say it’s time to use more backups.

Column: Watch for baby birds leaving their nests

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 5, 2024

In the bird world, there’s a sharp transition between spring and summer, between baby-making and child-rearing. It’s hard to see, but easy to hear. Often, it’s what you don’t hear that matters, like when the chickadees go silent or a warbler stops singing. Roughly two dozen warbler species nest in Maine. Each has its own timetable for when it sings and when it doesn’t. In early summer, songbirds sometimes ignore my pishing sounds. Just one week later, they may charge right in to see what the pishing threat is all about. How they react is often a clue to where they are in the breeding cycle. How did I miss this drama for so many years? ~ Bob Duchesne

Daggett Rock in Phillips is an awe-inspiring natural wonder, easily accessible

FRANKLIN JOURNAL • July 4, 2024

Daggett Rock, the largest glacially transported erratic in Maine is an awe-inspiring natural wonder located in Phillips. Daggett Rock measures 80 feet long, 30 feet wide and 25 feet high and is estimated to weigh 8,000 tons. This massive granite boulder with feldspar crystals likely originated from the Saddleback Mountain area. Geological evidence shows that Daggett Rock split when it was deposited where it now sits thousands of years ago. It is easily accessible via a short, rocky trail with an incline from Wheeler Hill Road.

‘Frustrating’ partisan stalemate: the new normal for farm bills?

MAINE MORNING STAR • July 4, 2024

The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division — a contrast from the legislation’s history of bipartisanship. Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nation’s largest federal nutrition program. The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash.

Where to find Maine’s 2nd-largest lighthouse and the state’s cutest bird

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024

BDN bird columnist Bob Duchesne has declared the Atlantic puffin Maine’s “sexiest bird.” This week, we’re taking a journey to Petit Manan, where you can spot the state’s second-largest lighthouse and, of course, the cutest bird. Still not convinced? Watch the video below to learn why the Atlantic puffin is Maine’s “sexiest bird.”

Freeport parade protesters call for fossil fuels divestment

TIMES RECORD • July 4, 2024

Climate action protesters gathered at the Freeport Independence Day parade, calling for divestment from fossil fuels. About two dozen members from Th!rd Act Maine gathered on a crowded Main Street, calling for independence from fossil fuels as the Fourth of July parade marched through town. Th!rd Act Maine, a group of Mainers over the age of 60 working to fight climate change, has frequently called on L.L. Bean to pressure its credit card provider Citibank to divest from fossil fuels. The group will next demonstrate in Augusta at the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) to pressure officials to abide by a law passed in 2021  – L.D. 99 – which calls on Maine to divest its assets from fossil fuels.

Cleanup continues after Mattawamkeag train derailment

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024

The cleanup continues after a Tuesday afternoon train derailment in Mattawamkeag. The derailment happened near the town line with Winn after a train car rolled off a side track onto the main track, where another train collided with it. The crash caused the train’s fuel engine to rupture. David Madore, deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, said in a Wednesday afternoon email that about 1,200 gallons of locomotive fuel was spilled.

Opinion: Time for a new Declaration of Independence

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 4 2024

Isn’t it time for a new Declaration of Independence? Whereas in the Course of human events it becomes imperative for humans to dissolve the bonds that have tied them to fossil fuels; and Whereas climate change, resulting primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels, is an existential threat to all of our communities, environment, and economies, and…Whereas governments must lead now by 1) accelerating investment in renewable energy; 2) holding polluters responsible for their actions; and 3) ending investments in fossil fuel companies and denying permits and approvals to further extraction,…Therefore we citizens of the 50 United States and global neighbors hereby declare our independence from fossil fuels. ~ Jeffrey A. Thaler, energy and environmental attorney, Portland

Letter: Floodgates a temporary hedge against global warming

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 1, 2024

While the perfect solution to rising ocean waters would be to reverse global warming, the installation of floodgates is something that Portland should consider in the short term. At least two should be considered: one for Portland Harbor and one for Back Cove. A third might be considered for the outflow of the Presumpscot River. Obviously, there are lots of technical obstacles. ~ Brian Nickerson, South Portland

Letter: The frightening effects of firework displays on animals

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 4, 2024

We can have a fantastic celebration without putting animals through the stress of a fireworks extravaganza in our communities. We can spare our pets and wildlife from the booming sounds, burning smoke and bright flashing lights of live fireworks displays. Triggered by sounds, many pets choose flight and go missing. Making sure pets have identification on their collars and keeping them indoors during these displays is critical. There are alternatives. ~ Gina Garey, Animal Wellness Action & Center for a Humane Economy, Portland

Sandy beaches and a mountain backdrop make Donnell Pond a paddler’s paradise

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024

With sandy beaches, clear water and a mountain backdrop, Donnell Pond in Hancock County is an outdoor destination that’s treasured by paddlers, anglers, beach-goers, swimmers and campers. A small portion of the pond, including the public boat launch, is located in the town of Franklin, with the majority of the pond in the neighboring township: T9 SD. Much of the pond’s shoreline is undeveloped because more than 60 percent of it is conserved as a part of Donnell Pond Public Lands, a state-owned public lands unit.

11 tips to help you master the art of car camping

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024

ar camping in Baxter State Park is a tradition for my family. Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two about what works:
• Campsites vary greatly; do your research.
• Bring a map.
• Make a loose itinerary.
• Learn from someone who has experience.
• Prepare meals as much as you can ahead of time.
• Don’t be afraid to sleep comfortably.
• Have a rainy day plan.
• Buy firewood from a local source.
• Know your water situation and plan accordingly.
• Don’t leave food or fragrant items unattended.
• Leave no trace.

Downeast Salmon Federation will remove Cherryfield dam with $9.1M grant

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 3, 2024

The Downeast Salmon Federation will use a $9.1 million NOAA grant to remove an ice retention dam on the Narraguagus River in Cherryfield. The federation has been working with the town of Cherryfield since 2014 to find a solution that works for the endangered Atlantic salmon trying to reach their spawning grounds and the town, which doesn’t want to be vulnerable to spring flooding. The federation’s proposed nature-like fishway, which is a series of rapids and pools, is unique because it will encompass the entire width of the river, without a side channel.

A new Midcoast PFAS lab enters the fray

TIMES RECORD • July 3, 2024

Nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they never fully degrade, PFAS compounds are resistant to heat, oil and water. While such agents make life-saving products, such as firefighting foam, effective, exposure has been linked to cancer and birth defects, among other health issues. Worse yet, PFAS has made its way into Maine’s tap water. Bigelow Laboratory, one of the three state-certified research centers offering PFAS testing, recently launched new analytical services to test samples of water, sediment, soil and plant and animal tissue using EPA-established methods.

Has Popham’s effort to save dunes with Christmas trees paid off?

TIMES RECORD • July 3, 2024

Last winter, high water levels and erosive waves flattened the dunes along Popham Beach State Park, diminishing a front-line defense for upland habitats. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and Maine Geological Survey devised a plan to rebuild beach elevation using recycled Christmas trees. By late March, 450 trees were lined up in four rows, stretching along 2,000 feet of the beach in Phippsburg. Endangered “pipers are threatened along the Atlantic coast,” said Sean Vaillancourt, Popham Beach State Park manager. “It’s been great to see a few take refuge” in the trees. Vaillancourt advised beachgoers to avoid walking on the dunes. “This is a fragile ecosystem,” he said. “Tread lightly and avoid disturbing coastal vegetation.”

Maine DEP investigating allegations of improper dredging of south branch of the Sandy River

MAINE PUBLIC • July 3, 2024

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is investigating allegations that the town of Phillips dredged the south branch of the Sandy River, affecting other branches where endangered Atlantic salmon migrate. The town dredged several feet down in a central channel in December, to alleviate flooding after the December rainstorm. That caused several other branches of the river to dry up, preventing Atlantic salmon migration, and destroying developing salmon eggs. The town should have contacted the state DEP and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services before altering the flow of the river.