PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 17, 2024
Gov. Janet Mills recognized four Maine companies with the annual Governor’s Award for Business Excellence. Wex, which offers payment management systems for businesses, took the “climate leader award.”
Maine chickens are wearing saddles for protection and fashion
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 17, 2024
If you see a hen in what looks like a dress, it might be for a good reason. Chicken owners today, who may see their flocks as pets rather than livestock, buy their birds some luxuries: high-end coops, expensive treats and even holiday decorations. Some are also buying functional gear for their birds, such as “chicken saddles,” which look similar to clothing but serve another purpose: protecting hens from losing feathers and getting hurt by mating with roosters.
Maine energy plan outlines path to 100% clean electricity by 2040
MAINE PUBLIC • December 17, 2024
An aim to source all of Maine's electricity from clean energy sources by 2040 is achievable and beneficial for the state, according to a revamped energy plan. The draft proposal calls for bringing online significantly more solar and wind energy resources, improving reliability of electric distribution and increasing efficiency in homes and businesses. Taken together, Maine could achieve its clean energy goals and bring down overall energy costs by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, said Dan Burgess, director of the Governor's Energy Office.
Maine approves Unitil’s $72 million acquisition of Bangor Natural Gas
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 17, 2024
Maine regulators on Tuesday approved the $71.9 million acquisition of Bangor Natural Gas Co. by Unitil Corp., the state’s largest gas utility. As part of the deal, Unitil will have to measure, report and take steps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the air from accidental leaks and intentional venting of pipelines.
Mainers prefer artificial Christmas trees, new poll finds
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 17, 2024
The Pine Tree State Poll by the University of New Hampshire found that 37 percent of Mainers plan to put up an artificial Christmas tree this year, as compared with 27 percent who favor a real one. Those who prefer real trees overwhelmingly said it’s because they like the smell. Other popular responses included wanting to support tree growers, liking a more natural tree, and liking the process.
Concerns grow in Southwest Harbor about feeding of deer
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 17, 2024
Some people in Southwest Harbor are concerned about the implications of a large deer population and the possibility that some residents and visitors might be feeding the deer. Worries about the deer herds on Mount Desert Island aren’t new. Deer haven’t been hunted on the island since the 1930s except when a “nuisance” deer situation has been declared. Now, though, the Southwest Harbor select board is considering what it can do — if anything — to help decrease the number of vehicle crashes involving deer. It’s also considering how to potentially decrease the amount of property damage deer might cause as well as Lyme disease cases on MDI.
Maine fishermen will be able to haul in a small shrimp harvest this winter
ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 17, 2024
New England shrimp, long lost from the marketplace as waters have warmed, will come back to seafood counters in small amounts next year due to a research fishing program. Also called Maine shrimp or northern shrimp, the small pink crustaceans were long beloved by seafood fans in winter. But for a decade now, the seafood industry has been under a fishing moratorium for the shrimp because of concerns about low population levels, which scientists attribute to climate change and warming oceans.
Opinion: The bipartisan promise of a carbon tax
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 17, 2024
If we were to imagine a policy that not only reduces carbon emissions and stimulates the economy but also unites arguably the largest divide in the U.S. – the polarization between the Republican and Democratic parties – we wouldn’t be dreaming; these are the promises of a well-designed carbon tax. Such a policy could help bridge the partisan divide in the U.S. because it would align with conservative and liberal priorities. It would incentivize a reduction in carbon emissions due to the promise of increased economic efficiency while generating government revenue for social redistribution. To mitigate financial inequality some of the government revenue raised by the tax could be used for recurring payments to low-income Americans. ~ Will Childs and Nico Schermer, students at Bowdoin College
Opinion: Maine employers must promote themselves – by promoting Maine
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 17, 2024
Maine employees are retiring en masse and their shoes need to be filled by younger workers. To deal with the labor shortage, businesses should use the state's excellent work-life balance as a selling point to recruit more working-age people from other states and countries, in addition to retaining young workers who are born here. There is a golden branding opportunity for Maine’s businesses on two fronts. The first is employer branding, whereby Maine companies make the case for employees to come to them – from their mission statement to pay, benefits and perks. The second is branding Maine itself, explaining why the Maine way of life is the best livelihood for Gen Zers and millennials. In Maine, our proximity to natural wonder is one of a kind, so employees have unique opportunities to unplug outside of work. ~ Nancy Marshall, Marshall Communications
Letter: Bipartisanship emerging on climate change
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 17, 2024
Despite the climate change-denying attitude of the incoming administration, good climate news is emerging. In the U.S. Congress, climate change is starting to be recognized as a fact rather than a political issue. More Republicans are facing the climate crisis and are interested in doing something about it. There is a bipartisan effort to pass a permitting reform bill in this lame duck session. If S4753 passes, it will allow the U.S. to modernize its electrical grid quickly and expand renewables. Let’s hope pluralism prevails and Congress works together on this bill. ~ Nancy Hasenfus, Brunswick
Auburn City Council supports using rail line for Casco Bay Trail
SUN JOURNAL • December 16, 2024
The City Council moved ahead Monday night with its support of using the inactive St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad between Auburn and Portland as part of a proposed 72-mile multiuse trail system. A resolution passed 6-1 by councilors supports a proposal that would turn the line into an “interim trail,” meaning the tracks and ties would be removed and converted into a trail, while the corridor would remain available for possible future rail use. The Casco Bay Trail is a proposed 72-mile off-road trail loop connecting Portland, Lewiston-Auburn, Brunswick and Freeport.
Conservation efforts keep Maine’s Hilton Family Forest wild
PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE • December 16, 2023
A national land trust has purchased 44,000 acres of forest in Northwestern Maine to keep it wild and free for generations to come. The Hilton Family Forest near Jackman contains mountain peaks, waterfalls and vital habitats for rare plant and animal species like the golden eagle. It is also a popular recreational area for hiking, biking and fishing. Tom Duffus, vice president and northeast representative for The Conservation Fund, said the land will remain open to the public. "We want to just keep things the same," Duffus explained. "What we've learned from this community so far is how important the stability of these landscapes is to them."
Biden establishes a national monument for Frances Perkins, the 1st female Cabinet secretary
ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 16, 2024
President Joe Biden on Monday established a national monument honoring the late FDR-era Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential Cabinet and a driving force behind Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs after the Great Depression. Perkins is “one of America’s greatest labor leaders, and that’s not hyperbole,” Biden said. Perkins “cemented the idea” that “if you're working a full-time job, you shouldn't have to live in poverty,” Biden said. The outgoing Democratic president signed the proclamation establishing the monument in Newcastle, Maine.
Residents in Denmark adopt a water extraction ordinance to protect the town's resource
MAINE PUBLIC • December 16, 2024
Residents of the town of Denmark have adopted a water extraction ordinance intended to strengthen protections of the town's resource. But some think it could have gone further. Against the backdrop of a changing climate, the ordinance is specifically intended to ensure that water withdrawals by Poland Spring and its new parent company, Primo Brands, are sustainable. But two members of the committee that worked on the ordinance for more than two-and-a-half years said it doesn't go far enough.
Frances Perkins Center designation adds a new draw to Damariscotta region
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 16, 2024
President Biden’s designation Monday of the Francis Perkins National Monument in Newcastle is expected to generate new interest among visitors to the Midcoast region who want to learn more about the first woman to become a Cabinet member. As secretary of labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), Perkins was instrumental in establishing programs as part of the New Deal package that pulled the nation out of the Great Depression. The Frances Perkins National Monument is one of only a dozen or so that are dedicated to women’s history. Locals say that will attract new interest to the region as well. The home is the second site in Maine to become a national monument. Former President Barack Obama designated over 87,600 acres of forestland in the North Woods as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in 2016.
Caribou and Maine DOT want to improve downtown pedestrian and cyclist access
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 16, 2024
Caribou and state leaders want to gather public feedback on a proposed project aimed at improving pedestrian and cyclists’ access to downtown. On Dec. 19, Caribou and the Maine Department of Transportation will host a meeting at 6:30 p.m. as part of their recent Village Partnership Initiative, which works with municipalities to increase the likelihood that pedestrians and cyclists can access downtown services and businesses, improve safety and enhance economic growth.
Brunswick Landing authority completes hangar code inspection
TIMES RECORD • December 16, 2024
The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority has completed inspections and testing for three of its aircraft hangars, including the one that malfunctioned and released toxic foam into the environment in August. The Brunswick Fire Department noted that the reports identified “system deficiencies that require attention,” which it said MRRA plans to address once parts for repairs are made available.
New government report highlights toll fast fashion takes on environment
MAINE PUBLIC • December 13, 2024
Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is highlighting the findings of the federal government's first-ever report on textile waste in the United States. The Government Accountability Office’s report, requested by Pingree is recommending that Congress take action and that several federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency do more to reduce textile waste. Every second, a dump truck of textiles ends up in a landfill, according to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The decomposition of that waste leads to the contamination of air, water and soil ecosystems. The fashion industry is reportedly responsible for nearly 10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions — more than the aviation sector and maritime shipping combined.
Homestead of Frances Perkins, ‘a titan of Maine,’ designated national monument
MAINE MORNING STAR • December 16, 2024
President Joe Biden on Monday designated the Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle a national monument to honor the legacy of the first woman to serve in a presidential Cabinet and longest-serving secretary of labor. The designation comes after a strong push from Maine’s congressional delegation as well as members of the public. Under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906, Biden’s decision will safeguard the 57-acre property along the Damariscotta River where Perkins spent her childhood summers and returned to throughout her career for respite.
Generations of midcoast poultry farmers have kept this rare duck breed alive
LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS • December 16, 2024
A flock of eight German Pekin ducks (aka European Pekins) on Jefferson’s Goose Hill Road are among the only representatives of their kind in the region, according to legacy poultry breeder Sarah Merrill, who is striving to keep their lineage alive. Maintaining rare breeds like the German Pekin is important to conserve genetic diversity and agricultural history, Merrill said. The breed is currently listed as endangered by the German Society for the Preservation of Old and Endangered Domestic Animal Breeds.