Governor selects leader of new state office designed to strengthen community planning

MAINE MORNING STAR • October 3, 2024

Mainers are contending with the impacts of climate change, housing shortages and population growth. Gov. Janet Mills announced on Thursday a new official who will be tasked with unlocking future opportunities to support local communities in addressing these complex challenges. Mills selected Samantha Horn, an expert in land use and natural resource policy and planning, to serve as director of a new office called the Maine Office of Community Affairs, funding for which was included in the supplemental budget passed this spring. Horn currently runs her own consulting business and has worked in natural resource policy and planning for three decades, including as director of science for The Nature Conservancy in Maine and as a division manager for the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.

Ongoing trash fire in Orrington prompts air quality alert for Midcoast, eastern interior Maine

MAINE PUBLIC • October 3, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality alert for today and Friday for the Midcoast and interior areas of eastern Maine. Winds are dispersing smoke from a large trash fire in Orrington that began on Tuesday night. The fire started on Tuesday inside a trash incinerator plant formerly operated by the Penobscot Energy Recover Company. The PERC plant ceased operations in May 2023 but an estimated 8,000 tons of trash were left behind.

Maine awarded $425M for clean energy project in Aroostook County

MAINE MORNING STAR • October 3, 2024

The federal department is awarding up to $425 million to Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power, in a capacity contract for the Aroostook Renewable Project, a proposed energy transmission line that would connect a substation in Haynesville to the Independent System Operator-New England in Pittsfield with a 111-mile transmission line with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

Letter: Hurricanes show catastrophic effect of changing climate

MORNING SENTINEL • October 3, 2024

The news about Hurricane Helene with its record rainfalls and winds underscores once again the increasing effects of warming oceans on storm strength and destructiveness. The oceans would not be warming were it not for human impacts on the atmosphere. Yet, according to Project 2025, the conservative playbook for a next administration, our big problem is the “climate change alarm industry.” So far, 29 municipal governments have passed endorsements encouraging Congress and the president to enact a federal carbon pricing policy that will motivate a shift in the economy away from fossil fuels and their pollution. If enough towns do this, perhaps we can actually motivate Sens. King and Collins and Reps. Golden and Pingree to take action to save our future prosperity. ~ Cynthia Stancioff, Camden

EPA: Navy has ‘ultimate responsibility’ to address Brunswick chemical spill

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 2, 2024

The U.S. Navy must “take any and all actions necessary” to protect human health and the environment in the wake of the Aug. 19 toxic chemical spill at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In a Sept. 26 letter, the EPA informed the Navy it “retains ultimate responsibility” to address the forever chemicals, or PFAS, left behind by the former military operation and those in the toxic firefighting foam, or AFFF, discharged by a faulty airport alarm because the Navy still owns the land.

New Jersey motorcyclist dies after hitting moose in Piscataquis County

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 2, 2024

Anand Sreedharan, 50, of Princeton, New Jersey, was driving south near T2 R9, a township near Baxter State Park, around 7 p.m. Monday when a moose walked into his lane. He was unable to avoid the moose and was ejected from his motorcycle by the collision. Sreedharan died from his injuries. The moose also died.

Officials confirm 1st case of Maine lobster gear causing the death of endangered right whale

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 2, 2024

Federal officials confirmed Wednesday that an endangered North Atlantic right whale found dead near Martha’s Vineyard in January died from “chronic entanglement” in fishing gear that belonged to a Maine lobsterman. It’s the first time a member of Maine’s iconic industry has been directly connected to a whale death, and it could have major implications for how lobstermen fish in the future.

Scarborough Town Council rescinds support for Gorham Connector

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 2, 2024

The Scarborough Town Council voted 6-1 Wednesday night to formally withdraw its support for the contentious Gorham Connector project. The vote follows increasing opposition among town residents to the controversial $331 million, 5-mile highway, which would affect 35 property owners in town. The resolution rescinds the council’s support for the connector, citing the failure of the Maine Turnpike Authority to fulfill the terms of its agreement with Scarborough and three other communities, as well as town residents’ widespread opposition to the project.

Maine DEP says expansion of state’s largest landfill would benefit public

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 2, 2024

Despite objections from neighbors and environmental groups, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection concluded Wednesday that expanding the state’s largest landfill, Juniper Ridge, would substantially benefit the public. The department’s decision allows the state to apply to add 61 acres to the state-owned Juniper Ridge Landfill, which takes in 52% of the state’s waste. The state claims this expansion would extend the facility’s operating life by 11 years.

Vaughan Woods & Historic Homestead gets new trailhead parking area

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • October 2, 2024

The Vaughan Woods & Historic Homestead’s Corniche Trailhead is closed temporarily as a 16-space gravel parking lot is under construction near intersection of Middle Street and Litchfield Road. The primary goals of the project are to improve safety to both pedestrians and motorists, reduce the impact of overflow parking on trailhead neighbors, and address stormwater management and parking capacity issues, according to a news release from Kate Tremblay, executive director of Vaughan Woods & Historic Homestead. The Vaughan Woods trail system features stone bridges and waterfalls. 40,000-plus visits to Vaughan Woods are made each year, often overflowing the primary trailhead’s small parking lot into the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Mainers weigh in on the state's new plan for tackling climate change

MAINE PUBLIC • October 2, 2024

In September, the Maine Climate Council took its 2024 draft plan on the road to Presque Isle, Bangor, Ellsworth, Portland, Biddeford and Lewiston. People came to hear, and give input on, the state's new draft climate plan. So far, about 3,000 people, including more than 350 Mainers who attended the meetings in person, have weighed in. Some feedback the council received was universal: people wanted to reduce vehicle miles traveled, and more focus on resiliency efforts, especially in the wake of last winter's devastating storms. One of the main differences between the 2020 and 2024 plans is better planning for future climate emergencies. The new proposal will be available for public comment from October 9 through the 21.

Maine signs on to national effort to spur apprenticeships in ‘climate-ready’ industries

MAINE MORNING STAR • October 2, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills is teaming up with other heads of state across the country to carve out career pathways in the climate and clean energy fields. Mills is part of a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors that make up the U.S. Climate Alliance. Late last month, the group launched the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative with the goal to train one million new apprentices by 2035 across the two dozen states and territories.

Brunswick Landing authority maintains it will not shut down fire suppression system

TIMES RECORD • October 1, 2024

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority has rejected the Town Council’s call to shut down the foaming fire suppression system in Hangar 6, saying that they are not legally allowed to do so. The Town Council voted in early September to push for the shutdown of a fire suppression system in Hangar 6, which uses a PFAS-containing firefighting foam, by the end of the month. The concern to shut the fire suppression system down and adopt a method of defueling planes before storing stemmed from concerns of another spill risk. MRRA-owned Hangar 4 spilled 1,450 gallons of toxic foam concentrate mixed with 50,000 gallons of water in August.

Letter: The benefits of renewable propane

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 1, 2024

By 2050, the World LP Gas Association predicts that renewable propane could meet half of the world’s demand for propane. Renewable propane is made from feedstock like plant and vegetable oils, animal fats and used cooking oils. Conventional propane, or propane that comes from oil and natural gas refining. Bonny Eagle MSAD 6 is the first district east of the Rocky Mountains to use renewable propane. Propane also saves our district about 50% in fuel costs and its clean-operating properties reduce our maintenance expenses. ~ Sarah Marean, Director of Transportation, Bonny Eagle MSAD 6, Buxton

MRRA submits plan to address fire system deficiencies in airport hangars

TIMES RECORD • September 30, 2024

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority has submitted a plan of action to address a code violation at Brunswick Executive Airport Hangers 5 and 6. MRRA Executive Director Kristine Logan said the quasi-state entity, which manages property at the former Naval Air Station known as Brunswick Landing, contracted Eastern Fire, a fire protection service company, to correct any deficiencies and perform annual testing of the fire suppression systems by Oct. 30. It also contracted Poole Fire Protection to conduct risk assessment of Hangars 4, 5 and 6, and find alternative options for suppression systems that do not use firefighting foams containing PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

A cottage business becomes a college business after seaweed snack company donated to UNE

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 20, 2024

When a small Maine nutrition bar company found itself at the crossroads of scaling up or shutting down, the owners instead forged a different path – they donated it to the University of New England. The Portland company, SeaMade Seaweed Company, manufactures a snack bar made with cranberries, honey, almonds and, of course, the main ingredient: seaweed. After eight years at the helm, co-owners Tara Treichel and Mark Dvorosniak handed the company over to the Biddeford university this summer. SeaMade’s next CEOs will be college students.

New solar development rules show tensions in Maine climate goals

MAINE PUBLIC • September 30, 2024

Solar companies are competing with farmers for land. And developers are reportedly willing to pay annual leases of $1,000 per acre. "To give up farmland of any kind seems crazy in that situation, and prime farmland is just so rare," said Nate Clark of Reed Farm, a dairy in Windsor. New regulations proposed by the state are supposed to balance competing land uses. Developers of solar arrays bigger than five acres would need soil tests, and a permit and would also pay fees based on the land's agricultural value. Funds would be used for future land conservation. The aim is to create a disincentive for solar developers to target farmland.

New solar development rules show tensions in Maine climate goals

MAINE PUBLIC • September 30, 2024

Solar companies are competing with farmers for land. And developers are reportedly willing to pay annual leases of $1,000 per acre. New regulations proposed by the Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry are supposed to balance competing land uses. Developers of solar arrays bigger than five acres would need soil tests, and a permit and would also pay fees based on the land's agricultural value. Funds would be used for future land conservation. Craig Lapine, Bureau of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources director said the aim is to create a disincentive for solar developers to target farmland.

Portland Trails improves pedestrian safety with traffic-slowing modifications

FORECASTER • September 30, 2024

Over the summer, Portland Trails modified intersections it deemed unsafe for pedestrians on three streets in Portland. Working with neighborhood associations and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Portland Trails painted curbs and placed flexible posts along the road intended to get distracted drivers to focus and speeding drivers to slow down. While these traffic-slowing demonstrations are temporary, neighbors say they have been effective in slowing traffic.

These 6 foliage drives take you by all sorts of Maine scenery

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 30, 2024

Whether you want to explore Maine’s mountains, rivers, coast or rolling farmland, there’s a foliage route for you. Many are just a couple hours from Portland, with quaint towns and places to get picnic provisions along the way. It’s a good chance to see different landscapes and explore Maine’s scenic byways, including the ones that are officially designated as such. Here are some suggestions for routes that’ll teach you about Maine’s geography. And there will be a quiz. If you don’t usually do a foliage drive, be advised this is the year for it. Foliage experts say the combination of sunshine and rainfall we’ve had is likely to create a blazing display of reds, yellows and oranges this fall.