Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs are popular in Maine but could hammer key industries

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 9, 2024

Former President Donald Trump’s preference for heavy tariffs on foreign-made goods may play well in Maine, where bipartisan opposition to free-trade deals has been a decades-long theme. The Republican is looking to greatly expand on the tariffs that he put into place during his first term and that President Joe Biden’s administration has mostly kept them in place. But the Trump-era tariffs prompted a trade war that at least initially hurt lobstermen, wild blueberry farmers and others in legacy industries that enjoy solid support from politicians here.

Maine DEP to test Brunswick homeowners’ water for PFAS after foam spill

MAINE PUBLIC • September 9, 2024

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection says it will send representatives out to go door-to-door this week to speak with Brunswick homeowners that may have been affected by the spill of firefighting foam three weeks ago at the Brunswick Executive Airport. The DEP has identified about 45 residential properties that staffers will visit this week to speak with homeowners about tests of their drinking water. The state says the public drinking water supply for Brunswick Landing from the Brunswick-Topsham Water District was not affected by the spill and has been confirmed safe to consume.

Manufacturers push back against rising electricity bills tied to renewable power incentives

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 9, 2024

Manufacturers in Maine are pushing back against electricity costs that rose sharply this summer as a result of state policy meant to encourage the use of solar and wind power. The Public Utilities Commission is again looking into how much of a power bill should be used to incentivize renewable energy projects. Milo Chip, a paper products manufacturer, told the PUC its monthly bill is up by $6,000. The business may be forced to close. In July, regulators said an analysis showed that low electricity users in some classes are paying much more than if billed only on the volume of electricity used and large users in some classes paying much less. Falling costs for solar panels also undermine the case for sizable ratepayer subsidies for the solar industry. “It’s time we pulled the fire alarm,” said one company representative..

Maine Climate Council to hold public forums on climate proposals

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 9, 2024

Environmental groups are demanding more out of the first draft of Maine’s next climate action plan. Some want to build on the successes of the state’s first plan, Maine Won’t Wait, by setting more ambitious targets for climate goals and expanding them to underserved communities. But other advocates say Maine needs to get much tougher, especially on transportation emissions. The Maine Climate Council will likely hear from people like Cannon this month as it takes the earliest iteration of the next climate action plan on the road to six communities to find out how everyday people think Maine should be preparing for a warmer, wetter future. The Council has already held forums – one online that drew 100 people and one in Presque Isle. It heads to the Lewiston on Tuesday and Portland on Thursday, then moves on to Bangor, Ellsworth and Biddeford the following week.

Your tampons may contain toxic metals and forever chemicals

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 9, 2024

Health professionals are raising the alarm about contaminants discovered in menstrual products used monthly by a majority of American women for about 40 years of their lives. Studies found forever chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in some tampons, pads and other products used to manage menstrual bleeding, along with other contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides. Maine and other states are stepping up consumer protections with laws to limit sales of products with added forever chemicals, known as PFAS, and to require ingredients to be fully listed on labels. But many of those measures don’t take effect for a few years, leaving consumers to make a best guess at the safest products.

Trout Unlimited to host presentation on restoring sea-run trout

TIMES RECORD • September 8, 2024

The Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting a presentation titled “Restoring Sea-Run Trout in Maine Rivers” at its monthly meeting. Members and nonmembers can attend Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m., at Joshua’s Restaurant, 123 Maine St., Brunswick.

Maine considering public health emergency over mosquito-borne illnesses as animal cases tick up

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 8, 2024

Following more than a dozen reports of mosquito-borne illnesses in animals in Maine, state officials are considering declaring a public health emergency. State health and agriculture officials on Friday confirmed a case of eastern equine encephalitis in a horse from Somerset County, making it the third animal to be diagnosed with the disease.

Opinion: Harvesting growth, connection and purpose

TIMES RECORD • September 8, 2024

Throughout my time working with Merrymeeting Gleaners, I have learned and gained so much. I’ve learned about farming, relationship building, networking, teamwork, how to deadlift, recipes, how to identify so many strange vegetables, and alternative ways to decrease food waste. I’ve improved my knife skills in the kitchen, realized the importance of having a purpose, and discovered how food can bring so many people together. Until recently, I didn’t truly contemplate how having access to quality food, the ability/ space to be active, and a social network heavily impact our mental and physical health. ~ Nasra Abdirahman, Bowdoin College fellow with Merrymeeting Gleaners

Farmington, Sanford lead state in solar development

MAINE MONITOR • September 8, 2024

Farmington and Sanford lead the state in solar development. Farmington has the most solar installed in the state with 94.2 megawatts, followed by Sanford, with 62.6. Farmington’s dominance is largely due to a 76.5 megawatt array on a farm along the Sandy River. The project was a joint venture supported by Bowdoin College in Brunswick and partners in Massachusetts. The panels were erected on roughly 300 acres after a dairy farmer lost a contract with Horizon Organic in 2018 and was forced to downsize his herd. In Sanford, the prevalence of solar is partly the result of more than a decade of advocacy by the City Manager as well as the city’s sweet-spot location. Sanford is near multiple 145-kilovolt transmission lines. But it’s distant from congested urban areas so large blocks of land are still available for development. 

Column: The long and short of migrations from Maine

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 8, 2024

As this fall migration proceeds, we can see how our attempts to sort out different migration strategies may lead us astray. One dichotomy that is often used for migratory birds is to contrast long-distance with short-distance migrants. Usually, a North American long-distance migrant describes a species that moves south out of the continent to Central America, South America or the Caribbean islands. A host of our nesting birds fall into this category: ruby-throated hummingbirds migrating to Central America, red knots to Argentina and scarlet tanagers broadly across South America. ~ Herb Wilson

Column: Show your Moxie, and drink up the beauty

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 8, 2024

Moxie Mountain rises to a lofty 2,933 feet in the geographic center of Caratunk, 5 miles east of the Kennebec River. The mountain is often confused with Moxie Bald Mountain, which lies 8 miles to the northeast along the route of the Appalachian Trail. Atop the mountain’s south-facing cliffs, the grand 270-degree panorama takes in Number Five and Snow mountains, the Bigelow Range, the Crockers, Mount Redington, Sugarloaf, Mount Abraham, Jackson Mountain and many others. Bonus points: Go all in on the Moxie theme by packing a can of Moxie soda – a time-honored Maine classic – on your hikes. ~ Carey Kish

Column: Trying to to prevail against a seemingly invincible opponent

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 8, 2024

Wild turkeys can be a formidable opponent. They may seem doltish diddling around our back yards, but step into their woods and they become a different creature. They’re eyesight is extremely keen, capable of recognizing all colors in the visible spectrum, detecting and processing any movement more acutely and rapidly than humans, and encompassing a 180-degree field of view with the slightest turn of their head. Their hearing is just as good, and though their brain is no bigger than the meat of a walnut, their instincts are honed for survival. Game laws are implemented to ensure fair chase. The odds lie clearly in favor of the game rather than those who pursue them. Luck always plays a role but if your goals is to prevail against a seemingly invincible opponent, it helps to know their Achilles’ heel. ~ Bob Humphrey

Editorial: State environmental protection needs to become much more active

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 8, 2024

Here in Maine as nationally, we have watched the whole realm of environmental protection morph into a political football. For a state so proud of its woods and waters, for a population so besotted with and invested in its natural surroundings, this could not be a more unfortunate development. And that’s without getting into fundamental public health concerns. We cannot let environmental protection fall foul of the vagaries of weak rulemaking, underfunding or understaffing, particularly where those limited conditions are the product of deliberate rollback – the likes of which was favored by former Gov. Paul LePage and, at the federal level, implemented and now freshly touted by former President Trump. So, vote with the environment in mind this year.

Opinion: Policymakers in search of sound science need to listen to fishery

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 8, 2024

Government regulators, who lack deep knowledge of what it takes to catch fish in the Gulf of Maine, reach conclusions about the state of our fish stocks that do not match what fishermen are seeing and what we know from being on the water every day. We know what tactics regulators are using to catch fish for their surveys, and we know they don’t work. This mismatch creates a vicious cycle of new limits on catch, which in turn threaten our businesses. I’m open to the possibility that industry is wrong. So, what do regulators have to lose? Work with us. ~ Jerry Leeman, Harpswell, veteran commercial fishing captain

Those flashy fall caterpillars aren’t as dangerous as you might think – mostly

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 7, 2024

During autumn in Maine, the leaves aren’t the only colorful things on the landscape. Crawling through the cool grass, caterpillars of all shapes and shades are on the move, and many of them are quite flashy. he caterpillars that are wandering around Maine in the fall are heading to bed. As the weather cools and the days shorten, these small creatures are searching for shelter, and perhaps a final meal, before spending several cold months in hibernation. The woolly bear, one of Maine’s most well-known fall caterpillars. The smeared dagger caterpillar is another bright fall wanderer. “Wooly bears are fine [to handle]. Some tussocks are not.”

The 12 prettiest town and city parks in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 7, 2024

Here are 12 of the prettiest town and city parks in Maine.
• Brewer Riverwalk, Brewer
• Cascade Park, Bangor
• Riverfront Park, Houlton
• Riverfront Park, Old Town
• Belfast City Park, Belfast
• Harbor Park and Amphitheatre, Camden
• Harbor Park and Marina, Ellsworth
• Agamont Park, Bar Harbor
• Library Park, Bath
• Winslow Park, Freeport
• Eastern Promenade, Portland
• Fort Williams Park and Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth

Scientists are still puzzled on what makes unique lobster colors so rare

ASSOCIATED PRESS • September 7, 2024

Orange, blue, calico, two-toned and … cotton-candy colored? Those are all the hues of lobsters that have showed up in fishermen’s traps, supermarket seafood tanks and scientists’ laboratories over the last year. The funky-colored crustaceans inspire headlines that trumpet their rarity, with particularly uncommon baby blue-tinted critters described by some as “cotton-candy colored” often estimated at 1 in 100 million. A recent wave of these curious colored lobsters in Maine and beyond has scientists asking just how atypical the discolored arthropods really are. It’s complicated. The best available estimates about lobster coloration abnormalities are based on data from fisheries sources, said marine sciences professor Markus Frederich of the University of New England in Maine. However, he said, “no one really tracks them.”

Shocked by Extreme Storms, a Maine Fishing Town Fights to Save Its Waterfront

NEW YORK TIMES • September 7, 2024

Stonington’s storied way of life has come to feel more tenuous, its existence more fragile, as pressure builds from climate change and economic forces. In small towns and fishing ports up and down Maine’s coast, fishermen have faced a slew of challenges in recent years: Tighter federal rules to protect endangered whales have limited the days they can fish and the gear they can use, while an influx of newcomers has driven up the price of coastal real estate and the pressure on tiny, cash-strapped towns to preserve their working waterfronts. “We’ve got a wall of water coming at us, and a wall of money coming at us, and we’re fighting these two big forces,” said Linda Nelson, Stonington’s economic and community development director.

New book: Loving the North Woods

DOWN EAST BOOKS • 2024

In Loving the North Woods, Karin Tilberg, one of Maine’s experts on Maine’s vast woodlands and the highly regarded president/CEO of the Forest Society of Maine, chronicles the difficult challenges that led to tremendous conservation successes. Focusing on the remarkable period of activity from 1990 to 2015, during which historic achievements in American conservation unfolded, the author explores how people love a place and bring that love into action. The heretofore untold stories of conserving Maine’s North Woods hidden in files of land trusts, state government archives, forest landowner records, and in the memories of those who participated, will inspire and guide us now and far into the future. Loving the North Woods will be published in October 2024.

Federal report OKs Gulf of Maine for offshore wind leases

MAINE PUBLIC • September 6, 2024

The federal government is preparing to sell offshore wind power plots in the Gulf of Maine after determining that leasing the area would not harm the environment. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said that installing buoys and conducting surveys to assess leases across one million acres of ocean would have no significant environmental impact. The actual installation of offshore turbines would require separate environmental reviews, according to the bureau. But the report opens the door to a sale by the end of the year for eight lease areas off Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The agency said the areas could produce enough energy to power 5 million homes.