Letter: Climate change contributors in plain sight in Portland

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • October 20, 2024

Last week I happened to be on the Portland waterfront for several days and each day I viewed as many as four cruise ships docked on the same day, with no fewer than two ships each day. All of these vessels ran their generators the entire time at the dock, while as many as 15 charter buses sat awaiting passengers, with their generators also running, and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad stood by awaiting its riders with engines idling. Although I am not a tree hugger nor a tree mugger, I have a hard time believing that those who advocate for non-fossil fuel energy sources are unaware of this or just overlook an obvious problem. ~ Daniel Milligan, Portland

Maine Forestland Owners Receive New England Leopold Conservation Award

SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION • October 19, 2024

David Moskovitz and Bambi Jones of Whitefield, Maine have been selected as the recipients of the 2024 New England Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. Moskovitz and Jones, own and operate Hidden Valley Farm, were presented with the award during a special presentation. They received $10,000 for being selected. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust will present Leopold Conservation Awards to landowners in 28 states this year. In New England the award is presented with New England Forestry Foundation and American Farmland Trust-New England.

The Maine roots of modern environmental policy

MAINE MONITOR • October 18, 2024

Unlike climate change, acid rain is a calamity that my generation largely hasn’t had to contend with, thanks to legislation passed in 1990. Last week, I was reminded of the distinctly Maine origins of that legislation by one of the architects themselves, former U.S. Sen. George J. Mitchell. At an event commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine, Mitchell commended his mentor and predecessor, Rumford-born Sen. Edmund S. Muskie, and outlined the paths to their trailblazing environmental work.

Lobsters in the shallows are emerging from their caves

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 18, 2024

Maine’s coastal lobsters are finding new digs. The lobsters living in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Maine are trading in the rocky crevices they have always favored for a life spent out in the open foraging for food on the ocean’s muddy bottom or open ledge, according to a new study by University of Maine researchers. This discovery upends the traditional understanding of American lobster habitat.

As climate change hurts Maine farms and restaurants, stakeholders search for solutions

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 18, 2024

Restaurateurs, chefs, farmers and aquaculture professionals met with state and federal lawmakers Friday for a roundtable discussion on the economic impact that climate change is having on Maine’s independent restaurants and their supply chains. Organized by the James Beard Foundation, the event was held at Japanese-inspired restaurant Bar Futo in Portland as part of the foundation’s Climate Solutions for Restaurant Survival campaign, being held in cities around the country. Three takeaways:

1. Unpredictable weather patterns are making farming harder and less profitable than ever.

2. Restaurants are struggling to buy local, sustainable products in the face of rising operating costs.

3. Bolstering the state’s fisheries and aquaculture is critical for the state’s future economic viability.

Maine gets $65 million to improve solar and wind power connections to the grid

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 18, 2024

Maine is set to receive more than $65 million from Washington for “smart grid” technology to more quickly connect solar panels and wind turbines to the electricity systems of Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power and boost renewable power generation. The Governor’s Energy Office said the collaboration between Maine, CMP and Versant is the first of its kind in the state and will involve adapting software and hardware to improve grid stability, regulate voltage and increase transmission capacity on power lines.

Bristol residents take a stand for clammers with conservation donation

TIMES RECORD • October 17, 2024

Public access to beaches and private owners’ right to exclude others from their property — are in constant tension. Not so for Bristol residents Michael and Margo Hope, who recently donated a 5-acre conservation easement to Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, permanently protecting public access to clam flats on the east shore of Johns Bay. The easement ensures continued access to the waterfront for those with a town shellfish license and protects the industry, which plays a significant role in water quality.

Forest Society of Maine announces Beichner as next president/CEO

PISCATAQUIS OBSERVER • October 17, 2024

The Forest Society of Maine, America’s seventh-largest non-governmental conservation organization based on acres conserved, has selected Christopher Beichner as its next president/CEO. Beichner, starting in December, will succeed Karin Tilberg who is retiring after 14 years at FSM. Beichner comes to FSM after having served 12 years as the president and CEO of Allegheny Land Trust serving the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region. He has 24 years of experience as a nonprofit executive and regional planner. He grew up helping his father run a sawmill.

Aspen Power Celebrates Completion of Two Maine Solar Projects

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • October 17, 2024

Aspen Power held ceremonies this week to celebrate the completion of two community solar sites in Corinth and Prospect, Maine, which together deliver 8.5 megawatts of renewable energy capacity. Comprised of more than 17,000 ground-mounted solar arrays on a total of about 50 acres, the systems will produce clean energy equivalent to preventing nearly 5,000 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere annually, or the equivalent of powering nearly 1,000 homes per year.

Invasive emerald ash borer discovered for the first time in Sagadahoc County

TIMES RECORD • October 17, 2024

Bath has a new invasive species of insect to contend with, one that has been ravaging ash trees in southern and northern parts of the state. Jack Hernandez, an arborist for the City of Bath, discovered the emerald ash borer in Bath last month. This is the first time the bug has been reported in Sagadahoc County. The emerald ash borer made its way into Maine more than five years ago. It has killed millions of ash trees across North America.

Millinocket evolution on national monument shows we’re not as divided as we think

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 17, 2024

In Millinocket, disagreements exist, like how to best rebuild local identity after one of the world’s largest paper mills closed and jobs disappeared. For the past 15 years, I have worked alongside local residents advocating for a shift to outdoor recreation-based economic development in the Katahdin region. Our efforts have focused on the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. To include a road from Millinocket, there needs to be an act of Congress. U.S. Sen. Angus King introduced S.4209, which would expand the monument’s boundary to include the existing road. In June, the Millinocket Town Council voted 4-3 to oppose the bill. But they kept listening and changed. At the end of August, the town council voted unanimously in support of the bill. Yes, our country is divided. But as Millinocket shows, not hopelessly so. ~ Lucas St. Clair, Elliotsville Foundation

Editorial: Yes on Question 4 to build and maintain Maine’s valuable trails

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 17, 2024

Question 4 asks voters to approve $30 million in borrowing for trail construction and maintenance, with a priority on accessibility and sustainability. This funding is an important investment in Maine’s outdoor recreation economy and heritage. We recommend a yes vote on Question 4.

Column: Cleaning up your yard in the fall has adherents and opponents

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 17, 2024

There’s no question that leaf-blowing is terrible for wildlife, especially the world’s disappearing insect population, but now even raking has come in for some controversy. Some say that raking the leaves in your yard hurts the natural world. It’s your yard, and you should do what you want. ~ Tom Atwell

MaineHealth to participate in major chronic Lyme study

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 17, 2024

MaineHealth is partnering with Tufts University for a new $20.7 million study that will research post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome – often called chronic Lyme – a condition that has puzzled scientists, doctors and patients for decades. Chronic Lyme, which is estimated to occur in 5% to 20% of Lyme disease cases, can persist for months, even years, after the patient becomes infected with Lyme disease. Lyme is a bacterial infection transmitted by the deer tick, and causes thousands of cases per year in Maine.

Column: Potential Kennebec dam sales offer creative solution

CENTRAL MAINE • October 17, 2024

It’s heartening to hear about a creative solution to a knotty, long-running controversy over four hydroelectric dams on the Kennebec River. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has offered to buy the dams and is in serious talks with the owner, Toronto-based energy giant Brookfield. It gradually acquired most of Maine’s hydro capacity after paper company owners decided to liquidate assets before shutting down their mills. There is a problem, however. Full dam removal could force the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan to close, the only integrated paper mill in Maine operating under its original design. There are 700 unionized jobs with excellent wages; a $418 million expansion is underway. One can foresee an arrangement meeting the mill’s water needs while maintaining renewable power. ~ Douglas Rooks

Opinion: Let’s preserve what makes Scarborough special

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 17, 2024

Scarborough is growing – fast. In many ways, that’s good news. There are new residents, new homes and new jobs in our community. But the quick pace of change also puts a lot of pressure on open spaces, natural areas, beach access and our ability to maintain clean water. On Nov. 5, voters will have the chance to take action to protect those things and more. Scarborough Question 3 authorizes the town to issue bonds for up to $6 million to protect our community and the places that make it special. Question 3 funds Scarborough’s land acquisition reserve fund, which was created by voters in 2000. ~ Patrick O’Reilly

Bar Harbor asks voters to loosen cruise ship limits

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 17, 2024

Two years after voters passed a citizen’s initiative to sharply reduce cruise ship traffic — leading to an ongoing stream of legal complaints — Bar Harbor officials hope that another vote next month will bring the resulting lawsuits to an end. But voters will have to agree to repeal the limits they approved in November 2022 for that to happen. The question of how much the town should restrict cruise ship visits has embroiled Bar Harbor for more than two years, pitting residents opposed to the industry against the local business community, and ensnaring officials who find themselves enforcing and defending in court a voter-initiated limit that they don’t readily agree with.

Wilton board brainstorms ideas to gain access to ATV, snowmobile trails

SUN JOURNAL • October 16, 2024

Selectpersons brainstormed ideas at Tuesday’s workshop on how to link trails and roads for riders that could bring economic development opportunities to businesses and residents. They plan to get the public’s input on what roads they would like to see open to ATV travel. They are also looking at developing parking for ATVs and snowmobiles.

Opponents of Belfast fish farm welcome early findings of new border survey

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 16, 2024

Opponents of the stalled-out project to build a land-based fish farm in Belfast are welcoming the preliminary findings of a surveyor whom the city recently hired to identify the boundaries between it and the neighboring town of Northport. Belfast used eminent domain in 2021 to secure access to intertidal land at the mouth of the Little River where Nordic Aquafarms aimed to install pipes for its project. But courts ultimately ruled that the eminent domain taking had relied on a defunct survey that confused a section of Northport for Belfast. Belfast councilors agreed to vacate the eminent domain action, and commissioned the new survey of the Belfast-Northport border. On Tuesday, surveyor Robert Yarumian II said that his preliminary findings were that, beyond the upper mouth of the Little River, the city’s boundary extends in a straight eastward line. In that intertidal area, he found that there is an area between the boundaries of Belfast and Northport that neither community has jurisdiction over. Opponents of the Nordic Aquafarms project were quick to celebrate the preliminary findings.

Boil water order issued for Gray Water District

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 16, 2024

The Gray Water District is directing customers to boil all water at least one minute before consumption or use in cooking. The district’s order says there is a “possibility of unsafe water” but did not elaborate on the specific risks or possible sources of contamination. Bill Gardner, superintendent of the water district, said a sample he collected Tuesday “got a hit for E. coli” above the safe threshold.