More than 3 million people visited Maine state parks in 2024

MAINE PUBLIC • January 17, 2025

More than 3 million people visited Maine state parks in 2024, according to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Three million visitors represents a more than 6% increase over 2023 attendance and the third time in four years that visitation surpassed 3 million. Andy Cutko, director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands said crowding at popular parks like Tumbledown Mountain and Popham Beach can harm natural resources as well as the visitor experience so his agency is working to limit crowds. Many state parks are undergoing renovations in 2025 and he recommends that visitors call ahead before making plans to visit parks this summer.

Maine will now regulate new outbuildings in unorganized territories

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 17, 2025

Mainers building barns, sheds, garages or other outbuildings in unorganized territories will be required to notify the state starting at the end of January. The accessory structures typically don’t need permits in these areas, but the Land Use Planning Commission announced a new rule Friday requiring property owners to fill out a notification form with the state saying they’ll meet the required standards. Less restrictive land use regulations in the state’s unorganized territories are a draw for people looking for places to homestead. But the commission said in its announcement that the rule was created to address issues with buildings not complying with required standards

Offshore wind a key feature of governor’s energy plan

MAINE MORNING STAR • January 17, 2025

The Governor’s Energy Office on Friday submitted its strategic plan for delivering affordable and reliable energy while meeting the state’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2040. A key component of the plan, which was delivered to the Legislature, is developing offshore wind — the future of which remains in flux with the incoming administration of President Donald Trump.

Unsigned mailer targets Freedom residents days before solar vote

MORNING SENTINEL • January 17, 2025

Days ahead of a Jan. 21 vote, residents have received a letter in the mail urging them to vote against the town’s proposed Commercial Solar Ordinance. The letter, citing problems with the ordinance’s treatment of landowners and restrictions on solar development, is the latest push in a three-year fight between the town’s Board of Selectmen and Planning Board, each accusing the other of writing an insufficient ordinance while making a grab for power.

Climate change impacts threaten future of Maine lighthouses

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025

Maine’s lighthouses were added this week to World Monument Watch’s list of heritage sites threatened by a variety of forces, including neglect, wars and extreme weather driven by climate change. The state’s 66 lighthouses, in spots along the coast that were already vulnerable, are increasingly threatened by sea level rise and intensifying coastal storms, creating a challenge for stewards of the historic structures who now have to figure out how to repair them – and mitigate future damage.

Tractor-trailer and pickup trucks collide on Route 4 in Livermore

SUN JOURNAL • January 17, 2025

A pickup truck and the tractor-trailer truck collided and a utility pole was struck late Thursday night on state Route 4, near the Turner line. The fuel tank on the tractor-trailer truck ruptured and fuel leaked out.

Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition Rolls Out Its 2025 Common Legislative Agenda

The 2025 Maine Legislative Session has begun. On 01/17/2025, Nick Janzen, Partnerships Director, and Cathy Breen, Director of Government Affairs at Maine Conservation Voters/Alliance, unveiled the Environmental Priorities Coalition (EPC) Common Legislative Agenda—a slate of policy priorities designed to address the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, protect Maine’s land, water, and wildlife, and promote healthy communities. Convened and facilitated by Maine Conservation Alliance, the EPC is an inclusive statewide alliance of 40 conservation, climate action, and public health organizations working together to secure a sustainable future for Maine.

Central Maine snowmobilers face new, snowless normal

CENTRAL MAINE • January 17, 2025

Much of central Maine just isn’t getting the snow it needs for snowmobiling. It’s been an issue for several years in a row now. “Down here in Kennebec County, I’m afraid our years are probably up,” said Ernest Rice. “Unless we get some real drastic change in the climate, we’re done.”

A PFAS-free fire suppressant made with Maine wood could fight wildfires

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025

A University of Maine researcher, James Anderson, was exploring the capabilities of sawdust that, when ground down to a microscopic level, turns into a watery goo. He realized the material — known as cellulose nanofiber or biogel — had all the right qualities to be an effective fire extinguisher. What if the solution to fighting fires was using the same material that was burning? The cellulose nanofiber quickly put out flames, stuck to surfaces for a long time, was much better than water at preventing fires from reigniting and is completely natural – free of toxins or forever chemicals called PFAS that harm people and the environment. Now, Maine is the No. 1 global public supplier of the material. But getting it certified will take time and money.

Column: It can be mesmerizing to watch a murder of crows

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 17, 2025

A “murder” is a colloquial name for a collective group of crows. We could just call it a flock but a murder is a “term of venery” as it is only used to refer to crows. In the winter we get many reports of large congregations of crows, typically in the evenings. These massive groups often cause (unwarranted) alarm. Safety is apparently a major factor in forming roosts, as you are much less likely to be picked off by an owl if you have thousands of others keeping a lookout, and statistically you are less likely to be chosen if there are thousands of other options. Studies also show that warmth and information sharing play a role in roosting. Go look for a crow roost. It is one of the largest congregations of birds we still get to see. ~ Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon

Trump tasks congressman with writing executive order he could issue to halt offshore wind

ASSOCIATED PRESS • January 16, 2025

President-elect Donald Trump tasked a New Jersey congressman and vocal critic of offshore wind with writing an executive order he could issue to halt wind energy projects. Offshore wind is a major part of transitioning to an electric grid powered entirely by sources that don’t emit carbon dioxide when generating electricity. The power sector is responsible for nearly a third of the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to end the offshore wind industry as soon as he returned to the White House. He wants to boost production of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change.

FEMA reimburses Farmington for flood damage

SUN JOURNAL • January 16, 2025

Between Dec. 23, 2022, and Dec. 18, 2023, there were four storms resulting in significant flood damage resulting in $952,514.38 in claims to FEMA by Farmington. With any FEMA claim, the federal government pays 75% of each claimed amount, the state pays 15% and the local share is 10%. Federal share for the four claims was $714,385.78, the state share was $142,877.16 and the local share was $95,251.44, according to Bridges. “By the end of this month, we should receive the last payment,” Leia Bridges, administrative assistant for Farmington Fire Rescue/Public Works noted.

Coyote hangs out at Bates campus in Lewiston

SUN JOURNAL • January 16, 2025

At first glance, you’d swear the animal sat and patiently posed for the photographer’s camera. Tom Roth, a wildlife guide and columnist for the Maine Sportsman, said there does not appear to be anything wrong with the coyote hanging out in Sun Journal’s Russ Dillingham’s neighborhood. “It is completely natural to see coyotes in urban settings now because they’re sprawl is increasing and they are living amongst us,” Roth said. Wildlife officials say make sure that pet food, garbage or other food items are not left outside the home and accessible to the animals. Small pets should be kept under control and not free to roam.

Rep. Golden reintroduces proposal for 10% tariffs on imports as a supportive Trump takes office

MAINE MORNING STAR • January 16, 2025

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine has reintroduced legislation to impose a 10% tariff on all imports, doubling down on his push as President-Elect Donald Trump, who has said he’d support such a tax, takes office next week. Golden’s legislation would put a 10% tariff on all goods and services imported into the U.S. Each subsequent calendar year, the tax would increase or decrease by 5% depending on whether the U.S. is in a trade deficit or surplus, respectively. Conservative think tanks championing trade-protectionist policy have voiced support for Golden’s proposal. Tariffs are popular with voters while economists are, and long have been, skeptical of their merits. When Trump imposed heavy tariffs in 2018, iconic Maine industries — lobster and blueberry — faced retaliation from China and the European Union.

Trout Unlimited to host informational event on insects and fly-fishing

TIMES RECORD • January 16, 2025

The Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting “Insects and Fly-Fishing: A Winning Combination” from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Sea Dog Brewing, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham. Imitating stream, lake and pond insects is one of the most important tools in a fly fisher’s bag of tricks. Well-known fly-fishing entomologist Eric Frohmberg will show videos of how insects behave and relate that to fly-tying and fly-fishing techniques.

Los Angeles is burning. Could it happen in Maine?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 16, 2025

In late October 1947, massive wildfires swept across the state. By the time the fires were extinguished, they had burned more than 200,000 acres, destroyed 900 year-round and 400 seasonal homes, left 2,500 people homeless and killed 16 others. The fires burned half of Acadia National Park, nearly wiped out nine communities and permanently changed Mount Desert Island and York and Oxford counties. Advances in firefighting technology and woodlands management have reduced the likelihood that they would burn out of control like they did in 1947. “Unfortunately, the fire devastation of 1947 could occur again under the right conditions. With climate change contributing to weather extremes, the risk of large-scale wild fires remains,” said Kent Nelson, a retired Maine forest ranger specialist.

Opinion: Maine is smart to make producers responsible for packaging waste

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 16, 2025

The packaging industry strategy has been simple: convince individuals it is their responsibility for litter, not the manufacturers. In addition to the annual $11.5 billion spent on litter collection, the costs for collecting, transporting, sorting and recycling materials, including plastics, is about $400 per ton. Who is responsible for these costs? 50 state governments, 38,736 local governments and 127,483 million households, enabling producers to externalize the costs of collecting and recycling their single-use products. There is a simple, effective approach to reduce plastic pollution and increase recycling: shift financial responsibility for packaging waste to producers through extended producer responsibility (EPR). EPR is the most cost-effective approach to improve packaging, reduce costs, increase recycling and minimize plastic pollution. ~ Megan Mansfield-Pryor, councilor-at-large for the city of Bath; Travis Wagner, Ph.D., professor emeritus of environmental science and policy at the University of Southern Maine

Maine snowmobile clubs are desperate for snow even as some trails open

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 16, 2025

Maine’s snowmobilers are on the cusp of having a good year, if they could just get more snow. There’s enough for a good base and some riding in the Moosehead Lake area and regions of western Maine, but connecting trails have little to no snow. And what they have gets beaten up quickly with use, is the consensus among several clubs. Snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding brought in $108 million at the end of the season in 2023, up from $68 million in 2022, according to the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Maine event showcases the ‘future of agriculture’

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 15, 2025

Automated farming equipment dealers are sharing floor space with old-time horse loggers in the Augusta Civic Center this week at an event that’s drawing farmers from around the state. Maine’s 84th annual agricultural trade show started Tuesday morning and runs through Thursday, hosting more than 70 presentations, organizations, businesses and educators. The annual event organized by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry billed itself this year as a way to “discover the future of agriculture.”

Janet Mills proposes higher fees for fishing licenses and handgun permits

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 15, 2025

Gov. Janet Mills is proposing higher fees for fishing licenses along with optional concealed handgun permits in her two-year budget proposal that lawmakers will scrutinize. The $11.6 billion plan includes various tax hikes alongside cuts to create a balanced budget and fill a projected $450 million shortfall through 2027.