Settlement would bring fish passage to Auburn’s upper Barker Mill Dam

SUN JOURNAL • November 18, 2025

A proposed settlement for the upper Barker Mill Dam project would aid fish migration and recreation along the Little Androscoggin River, officials said this week. The proposal, which requires fish-passage upgrades and other measures, is under federal review, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The upgrades are designed to help migratory fish navigate riverways by reconnecting upstream and downstream habitat for spawning and rearing. Improved passages on Maine’s rivers in the past have helped species such as Atlantic salmon and American eel while supporting the overall river health and ecosystem.

Biddeford halts UNE pier permitting process

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 18, 2025

Biddeford City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 6 to halt the permitting process for the proposed University of New England pier and consult the Maine Attorney General’s office. The council passed a resolution to “withhold further permitting or authorization” related to the project, which has received backlash from community members over the past year. At the heart of the debate is the location of the proposed pier, which would be located in the Saco River adjacent to the Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center on the UNE campus. The pier would be 80 feet long, and according to residents, would displace dozens of boats moored in the river.

Regulators dismiss CMP’s controversial 5-year rate increase

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 18, 2025

Regulators dismissed Central Maine Power Co.’s proposal to increase rates over a 5-year period Tuesday and are calling on the utility to file a new plan early next year. Rates will still likely go up, but the structure and timeline of CMP’s controversial plan to fund millions worth of infrastructure improvements and new hires could change significantly.

Women’s walking group takes to trails together

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 18, 2025

On a recent Saturday morning, nine women gathered at Blue Point Preserve for the land trust’s women’s walking group. The Scarborough Land Trust has been hosting these gatherings for the past couple of years, encouraging women to explore the preserves together. Diane Neal, a board member and leader of this month’s walk, said that many women are intimidated to walk alone on the trails. “Scarborough seems safe,” said Christine Labaree, president of the Scarborough Land Trust’s board. “It’s less about it feeling unsafe and more about encouraging women to get out and use the trails.” The trails can be difficult to navigate, especially during fall when fallen leaves obscure the paths.

Help Wanted: Maine Conservation Voters & Maine Conservation Alliance Political Director

MAINE CONSERVATION VOTERS • November 18, 2025

Looking to hire: A Political Director to design and drive winning political and electoral strategies that expand our influence and advance our policy goals at a pivotal moment for Maine's environmental future. 

Does hunting deer in Maine actually save you money?

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 18, 2025

A processed deer often works out to roughly $3 per pound of meat — far less than grocery store beef. [Not counting the cost of equipment, time, travel, etc.] For most hunters, whether it saves money is of little consequence. Hunting is what we love to do because it’s in our blood, and any money saved or lost is secondary.

One year in, how is ‘microtransit’ faring in Falmouth?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 17, 2025

Greater Portland Metro launched Metro Connect in Falmouth at the start of December 2024, piloting its first microtransit program. To use the on-demand shuttle service, riders can summon the Metro Connect vehicle to their location through the Greater Portland Metro website, an app, or by calling Greater Portland Metro. Riders can then select where they are dropped off within the service area, which has expanded to reach most of Falmouth since the service’s launch. The overall ridership of Metro Connect in Falmouth has been moderate. Circling Falmouth seven days a week, the van picks up an average one rider per hour. Mike Tremblay, director of transit development at Greater Portland Metro, said the transportation company is shooting for the vans to hit two rides per hour by the end of this year.

EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers

ASSOCIATED PRESS • November 17, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday it is redefining the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to limit the wetlands it covers, building on a Supreme Court decision two years ago that removed federal protections for significant areas. The new rule will help accelerate economic prosperity, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said. Zeldin is a former Republican congressman who has pushed to rollback dozens of environmental regulations. Environmentalists slammed the proposal as a giveaway to industry..

75 gallons of heating oil spills into Kenduskeag Stream in downtown Bangor

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 17, 2025

Roughly 75 gallons of heating oil spilled into the Kenduskeag Stream in downtown Bangor on Monday morning, according to a Maine Department of Environmental Protection employee. Oil slicks were visible on the stream and the smell of the spilled oil was noticeable Monday as crews worked to clean the spill. An oil company was delivering fuel to a building between Franklin and Central streets around 5 a.m., Monday, said Bob Shannon, Maine DEP oil and hazardous materials responder. The truck driver hit a concrete abutment and damaged the oil release, causing the oil to spill into the Kenduskeag Stream. a small amount of oil can affect a large amount of water, and oil spills have cumulative effects on the environment, said Dwayne Shaw, executive director of the Downeast Salmon Federation.

Bridgton-area land trust screens select shorts from World Trails Film Festival

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 17, 2025

“Trails weave through our lives in many ways, from spiritual pathways to recreational or everyday transit. They are political, transformational, and connect us to nature, reveal history, fight climate change, bring healing, and bridge communities.” This is the mission statement of the World Trails Film Festival, as read by Loon Echo Land Trust Executive Director Matt Markot to the 140 people who gathered at the Magic Lantern Theater in Bridgton Nov. 13 to watch a selection of nine short films centered around the role of natural trails as a phenomenon connecting people around the world. The screening was a collaboration between Loon Echo and two other land trusts: the Greater Lovell Land Trust, and the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust.

Maine man cultivates hundreds of small, flat fruit trees

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 16, 2025

When Claus Hamann goes out to his Orland orchard, he always brings his clippers. That’s because he has a lot of pruning to do: his fruit trees are kept short and trained to grow flat along cables. Hamann, a retired physician, started the first of his three orchard plots after inheriting some old apple trees upon moving in a decade ago. Now he has around 250 two-dimensional trees, including apples, pears, peaches, quince and elderberry. Called “espalier,” the ancient method he uses to train them lets him grow numerous varieties of fruit close together in a small space, keeps them easy to maintain, makes harvesting simple and is ergonomic to work with as he ages.

Column: New trail offers longer hike in Cobscook Bay neighborhood

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 15, 2025

Great South Bay Trails is part of Cobscook Shores, a network of 20 waterfront parklands in the far Downeast region owned and managed by Butler Parklands. The private non-profit conservation organization was founded by Gilbert Butler, who has close ties to Maine dating back many decades. Butler Parklands’ work spans the Western Hemisphere from Maine, New York and South Carolina to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. On a beautiful afternoon a while back, I join Matt Ells of Parklands for Butler Parklands for a pleasant 3/4-mile walk to the shore of South Bay. Ells is eager to showcase the preserve, a union of three properties, and their new trail, a roughly 4-mile lollipop loop that was built in response to the public’s desire for longer hikes in the Cobscook Bay neighborhood. ~ Carey Kish

Mystery Fuels Unease in Maine Woods: Who Bought Burnt Jacket Mountain?

NEW YORK TIMES • November 15, 2025

In the wilderness of northern Maine, a long tradition of allowing public access, even on privately owned lands, has shaped the region’s culture and identity since the 1800s. So when “No Trespassing” signs showed up around Burnt Jacket Mountain, at the edge of Moosehead Lake, this summer, it did not go unnoticed. Neither did the new surveillance cameras and locked gates in the woods, nor the crews cutting a new road up the mountain. In the Moosehead region, the anonymous incursion stoked unease, and a fixation: Who was the mountain’s new owner? A woman who used to work in Greenville’s town office posted on Facebook: The new owner of the mountain was Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire founder of Facebook. “Mark and Priscilla do not own any property in Maine, including the Burnt Jacket property,” a spokesman for the family said. The denial would not convince everyone. Nor did it ease hurt feelings as the mystery endured.

Fairfield eyes emergency preparedness with community response team

CENTRAL MAINE • November 15, 2025

Fairfield officials hope that when the next emergency strikes the town, a team of volunteers will be ready to assist first responders. In January, people interested in joining the town’s planned Community Emergency Response Team can get the training they need. “We can’t rely on the (federal) government as much anymore,” said Stephanie Thibodeau, a town councilor and chair of the Fairfield Economic and Community Development Committee, which organized the training. “We need to have people step up to the plate, do some volunteering, and take care of their communities. We need that now. It’s a whole different paradigm of how we want to make sure we’re safe in our community.”

Incentives, rebates still available, but federal heat pump help runs out Dec. 31

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 15, 2025

Efficiency Maine, an independent and quasi-state agency that plans and implements energy efficiency programs, provides rebates and loans to make some home updates more affordable across all income levels. Federal tax credits for all 19 programs will end Dec. 31, 2025. To learn more about incentives for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, weatherization and more, go to efficiencymaine.com/at-home.

How Maine residents can get the most out of their heat pumps

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 15, 2025

A mix of satisfaction and discontent by homeowners matches what installers and policymakers describe. Advancements are one factor, with more recent models generally offering the greatest efficiency. “Today’s heat pumps have no problem with Maine’s cold winters,” said Scott Libby, owner of Royal River Heat Pumps in Freeport. “The newest models provide 100% of their rated capacity at minus-10 degrees Fahrenheit and have guaranteed output at minus-22 degrees.” He advises customers to “set it and forget it” when temperatures drop, instead of turning down the thermostat at night as homeowners have been taught to do. “Weatherize first, then design the system based upon the new heat load of the home.” Rebates, he said, can “effectively cut the payback time in half” for some low-income households. The push for heat pumps appears to be serving both the state’s climate goals and Maine residents’ pocketbooks.

5 tips for an efficient heat pump

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 15, 2025

Maine experts say doing these things will maximize your heat pump’s efficiency.

• Keep it clear. Brush snow and ice away after storms or when drifts build up. Outdoor units need about 18 inches of clearance on all side for good airflow.

• Check drainage. Condensation lines should be kept clear so winter meltwater and summer condensation can drain away.

• Keep your system maintained. Regularly clean or replace air filters. Schedule a professional tuneup once a year to check refrigerant levels and coils.

• Use your heat source backups strategically. Homeowners with older oil or propane systems should only use them as backups during extreme cold events to maximize heat pump efficiency.

• “Set it and forget it.” Heat pumps work best when the thermostat is set at a steady and comfortable temperature rather than turning the unit down or shutting it off at night and back up in the morning.

Column: Follow these steps to identify birds quickly

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 15, 2025

The first point when it comes to identifying birds quickly is this: size matters. The shape of every bird is largely determined by its diet. Probably the biggest secret is that color should always be treated with suspicion. ~ Bob Duchesne

Maine entrepreneurs see big potential in seaweed

MAINE MONITOR • November 14, 2025

Alexa McGovern has long been interested in seaweed farming, and in 2023 she founded Dirigo Sea Farm, a company that uses Maine kelp to produce bioplastic. Now, as the company identifies its first potential customers for a substitute for the plastic wrapping around dishwasher and laundry detergent pods, McGovern said she’s focused on how seaweed can be an economic driver for communities. She joins a growing group of entrepreneurs and researchers along Maine’s coast who see big potential for bioplastics derived from seaweed. 

Trump shut down offshore wind in New England. Nova Scotia hopes to benefit.

MAINE PUBLIC • November 14, 2025

Since taking power earlier this year, President Trump has made good on campaign threats to halt American offshore wind projects. His anti-wind agenda has stifled clean energy growth in Maine and the rest of New England where ocean wind is regarded as crucial for meeting long-term electricity demands, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting economic development. Now some in the industry have turned their attention north, to the Canadian province of Nova Scotia where that country's first ocean wind development is gaining speed. Nova Scotia is eyeing the northeast U.S. as a potential customer.