MainePERS misses 2026 fossil fuel divestment deadline

MAINE PUBLIC • January 5, 2026

Maine's public retirement system has missed a 2026 deadline to fully divest from fossil fuels set five years ago, to the disappointment of some environmental advocates. The Maine Public Employee Retirement System (MainePERS) said it has about $1.15 billion invested in the fossil fuel sector as of last June. That's roughly 5% of its total investment portfolio, according to a end-of-year report to the Legislature. The agency said it stopped making investments in the sector in 2017. Fossil fuels as a share of its portfolio has gradually dropped and will be around 4% by 2028, according to the agency. But it "does not believe further active divestment from fossil fuels would be in the best financial interests of members as benefit recipients, as further action would conflict with both the trustees’ duty of loyalty and its duty of prudence to our members," MainePERS said in the report.

Waterville man seeks fewer city restrictions on keeping chickens

CENTRAL MAINE • January 5, 2026

Leo St. Peter says he thinks the city’s rules about keeping chickens are too restrictive, and he wants to see them loosened. St. Peter said with food prices high and people wanting to raise their own food to cut costs and eat more healthfully, making it easier to raise chickens is important. The requirement that people raising chickens have at least 8,000 square feet of property is too stringent, as is the limit of six chickens per lot, according to St. Peter.

Free the Andro Public Launch, January 27

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • January 5, 2026

The public is invited to attend the public launch of the Free The Andro coalition, a Maine non-profit citizens group formed to restore fish passage between the Androscoggin River and the ocean after more than a century of neglect and blockage at the Brunswick–Topsham dam. Free the Andro will present the challenges of the Brunswick-Topsham dam stopping passage of critical migratory fish and discuss potential solutions for rebuilding abundant and sustainable fish populations and returning the river to a functional ecosystem. This is truly a once-in-a lifetime opportunity as the dam faces Federal relicensing which will determine the fate of the river, its fish, commercial and recreational fishing, and the many communities along its shores for generations to come.

WHAT: FREE THE ANDRO Kick-Off Public Meeting

WHERE: Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Library, 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick

WHEN: 5:00-6:30 pm Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Column: Avoid the temptation of feeding deer in winter

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 5, 2026

Hunters and non-hunters may be tempted to provide supplemental nutrition to help deer survive the harsh winter conditions. Before you do, there are things you should know. First, deer are well adapted to withstand winter. Most will make it and some won’t, but that’s nature’s way of culling out the weak and sick. Feeding artificially concentrates deer, often in the wrong areas. Attracting deer close to roads and houses increases the probability of car-deer collisions, and stress or mortality from free-roaming dogs, as well as over-browsing and depredation of ornamental plants. Deer have a very complex digestive system. A deer could die with a full stomach if fed the wrong food at the wrong time. Enjoy the chance encounter when they wander through the backyard, but let them follow their natural instincts for finding food and cover. ~ Bob Humphrey

Column: Slip-sliding away on spectacular Cadillac Mountain

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 5, 2026

At an elevation of 1,532 feet, exceptional Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak along the eastern seaboard of the United States. Arguably the most scenic mountain on the coast of Maine, three major trails lead to the summit. North Ridge Trail was the choice for our trek. Our final climb was rewarded with breathtaking vistas of surrounding mountains and the jagged coastline below. After careful examination of our maps, we decided to travel back on the longer but presumably more forgiving and equally scenic Cadillac Mountain Road. A combination of ice, hard-packed snow and sometimes bare pavement resulted in indecision regarding footwear. Some removed spikes while others continued with them. By the time we joined the Park Loop Road, everyone had fallen at least once. What had appeared to be a safer hiking alternative turned out to be more hazardous. ~ Ron Chase

Commentary: Trump’s attacks on Canadians are hurting Maine’s border economies

MAINE MORNING STAR • January 5, 2026

New analysis of federal and state data by the Maine Center for Economic Policy shows the number of Canadians visiting Maine has plummeted since President Donald Trump’s inauguration and as a result economic activity in Maine’s border communities has shrunk significantly. Since last January, Trump has made a number of antagonistic moves towards Canada, from imposing tariffs, to threatening to annex the country as the “51st state.” Canadians have responded with their own tariffs and boycotts of American-made products and travel to the United States. Since Trump’s inauguration, almost 750,000 fewer people have crossed the land border into Maine. The Canadian boycott of Maine has had repercussions on the state’s economy, especially in areas near the border. ~ James Myall, Maine Center for Economic Policy

Survey: Scarborough residents ‘satisfied,’ but worried about growth

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 5, 2026

Scarborough residents are largely satisfied with life in town, but they’re worried about the pace and scale and rapid pace of growth, according to results of a community survey released late last month. Scarborough is one of Maine’s fastest growing towns, and pushback against growth is a common refrain among some residents. They share concerns about increased property taxes, difficulties accommodating a growing student population, impact to public infrastructure and increased traffic. The majority of survey respondents who had an opinion said that multifamily and single-family residential development was happening too fast. A new state law signed in June exacerbated the community’s concerns about growth. In an attempt to address Maine’s affordable housing shortage, the law limits zoning restrictions and  municipalities’ ability to regulate development.

Rolfe Hill in Casco to get mountain biking trails thanks to Maine Trails Program funds

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 5, 2026

Loon Echo Land Trust was one of the recipients of the inaugural round of the Maine Trails Program, receiving $142,000 from the state to develop mountain biking trails at the Rolfe Hill Forest area in Casco. Loon Echo purchased the 400-acre Rolfe Hill Forest property, which Casco’s open space plan identifies as an “area of high recreational and ecological importance,” in early 2024 after a successful multiyear fundraising campaign. Trail development in the area began last fall, when Loon Echo partnered with Mt. Abram Trails to construct a 0.7-mile downhill flow trail. Slated to open in the spring, it will be the first piece in a planned trail network, which the Maine Trails Program funding will allow to expand by 2.5 miles.

Opinion: We must protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 5, 2026

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, renowned for its incomparable ecological values, cultural significance and climate importance, is again threatened by the current administration. Drilling in the irreplaceable Arctic landscape is a waste of taxpayer dollars: it will not raise money to balance the budget. The first mandated lease raised less than 1% of the nearly $2 billion in revenue promised and was canceled. The second lease sale drew no bids and raised no dollars. This year, Republicans in Congress mandated four lease sales in the Refuge. And a new resolution passed in October allows oil and gas corporations to sidestep essential environmental protections. Drilling in the Arctic would exacerbate the climate crisis at our doorsteps in Maine. Urge Sens. Collins and King to co-sponsor the Arctic Refuge Protection Act and thank Rep. Pingree for doing so. ~ Daniel Tandy, Maine Alaska Coalition, former National Park Service ranger in Alaska, Westbrook

Letter: Saluting our wastewater treatment plant workers

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 5, 2026

Anyone who cares about public health, sanitation and clean water should see the award-winning documentary “Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong.” The film follows the employees of Portland’s wastewater treatment plant. These workers are doing phenomenal work with limited means to keep our environment clean. My takeaway is that it’s becoming increasingly important for existing wastewater treatment plants to be upgraded so that they can effectively handle wastewater in an efficient and environmentally friendly way. However, the Trump administration proposes to reduce or eliminate funding for many water infrastructure programs. I salute the Portland wastewater plant workers for their impact on public health, the local economy and environmental well-being they deliver. ~ Jim Farnan, East Boothbay

Why Maine didn’t come close to meeting a 2026 deadline to divest from fossil fuels

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 5, 2026

Nearly five years ago, Maine passed a first-in-the-nation law requiring the state pension system to divest from fossil fuels. Thursday was the deadline to do it. Yet roughly $1.15 billion was still invested in the sector as of December. It has long been clear that the Maine Public Employees Retirement System wasn’t going to meet the deadline. The agency has cited a part of the law that requires it to divest while meeting its “fiduciary obligations” to current and future retirees. The 2021 law was part of an environmental movement to push institutions to get out of the fossil fuel sector. Maine’s pension system made its last investments focused on the fossil fuel sector in 2017. The share of money in the sector has naturally declined since then. It now sits at 5.4% and is expected to be under 4% by 2026. Getting out of fossil fuels at once would be costly, the agency argues.

Are AI data centers an economic boon or environmental disaster?

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 5, 2026

AI data centers power the modern digital world, fueling everything from smart assistants to cutting-edge research. But with this progress comes questions: How will they affect local resources? What community benefits could they bring? What trade-offs might your town have to make? What will they mean for our local environment, our power grid, our water supply? Will they bring good jobs, or simply siphon resources while profits flow elsewhere? These are looming decisions that will shape the character of Maine’s towns for decades to come. There are no state or federal regulations for AI, nor legal frameworks requiring owners and operators to disclose their energy and water consumption. In fact, a recent executive order promised to preempt regulatory efforts at the state level. Community wellbeing is dependent on a robust and transparent public process. It’s your region, community, or neighborhood that will bear the impact as these facilities are built. ~ Joe Oliva, GrowSmart Maine and Maine Broadband Coalition

Maine’s Pine Barrens, part 2

MAINE NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATORY • January 4, 2026

In this episode, Logan Parker explores the plant communities of Maine’s pitch pine–scrub oak barrens, from fire-adapted pines and dense thickets of scrub oak to rare wildflowers, grasses, and sandplain specialists. He highlights the insects and butterflies that depend on these habitats, including several rare species, and the management efforts that help maintain these declining ecosystems.

Weather conspiracy theories

SUN JOURNAL • January 4, 2026

Has anyone noticed that the latest Farmers’ Almanac predictions for this winter have been right on the money? Intense cold followed by snow followed by intense cold again and then some more snow. I’ve begun to think that the mysterious people of the almanac weren’t just forecasting the weather, they were controlling it. By that logic, now that the almanac has called it quits after 200-plus years, it should just stay summer year-round. Of course, I suppose it could also mean never-ending winter, but I don’t like to let my mind go there. ~ Mark LaFlamme

Hard-shell clam project aims to diversity aquaculture and shellfish harvesting in Maine

MAINE PUBLIC • January 4, 2026

An effort to diversify Maine's aquaculture and shellfish industries is getting a boost from a hard shell clam farming project near Brunswick. The project, led by the conservation science group Manomet, involved seeding some 400,000 quahogs in floating upweller systems that are commonly used in oyster farming, said senior fisheries director Marissa McMahan. "We wanted to really specifically look at whether there was an opportunity for oyster farmers to be adding quahogs to their oyster farms as a secondary product that they're producing, and then sell to municipal [stock enhancement] programs," she said. McMahan said they recorded an 80% survival rate this year. Quahogs are found more commonly farther south, but McMahan said as ocean temperatures rise due to climate change, Maine waters are increasingly suitable for the species, which have built-in defenses against invasive predators.

Maine snowmobile clubs warn of dangerous trails

MAINE PUBLIC • January 4, 2026

Snowmobile clubs are warning riders to stay off most trails until Maine gets more snow. Al Sweat, operations director at the Maine Snowmobile Association says early snowpack was mostly wiped out by a December rainstorm, leaving icy, hazardous conditions across most of the state. Sweat said, "We already had one fatality; we lost a child up in the county, and that was a preventable accident and it never should have happened." Once dependable Maine snowpack has become less abundant and predictable, and it's taken a toll on the state's snowmobiling industry. Winter is Maine's fastest warming season as global temperatures rise because of greenhouse gas pollution from burning fossil fuels.

Teens land big one on Androscoggin River in Turner

SUN JOURNAL • January 4, 2026

Liam Haslip and Lyric Orlando, both 15, checked their Jack Trap while ice fishing Tuesday at the Center Bridge boat launch on the Androscoggin River in Turner. They and Brady Guay, 14, spent about five hours on the river with Orlando hauling in a 37-inch northern pike.

Letter: Reusable packaging is the solution to growing plastic waste problems

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 4, 2026

Plastic waste and debris is a pressing concern for coastal communities. For about a quarter century, China bought much of the U.S.’ plastic recyclables. This changed in 2018 when many U.S. recycling programs switched to single stream and China tightened contamination standards. Transfer stations and sorting plants across the country lost significant revenue and plastic recycling in the U.S. dropped to 5%. Today, the majority of plastics end up in incinerators, landfills or our ecosystems. When plastic is recycled, the processes consume more energy on top of the initial plastic production. Cities across the globe are exploring reuse and finding success. As a food and beverage city, South Portland is well positioned to be among these innovators and to reap the benefits. ~ Katherine Kirk, South Portland

Letter: The silent partner that really has Hannaford protesters so charged up

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 4, 2026

Hannaford Supermarkets, which operates 189 stores in the Northeast, has been the target of protests over an alleged lack of free-range eggs and alleged bad meat. Why is Hannaford being targeted in TV ads in an obvious attempt to disrupt its customer base? Hannaford has a very active renewable energy program, with the goal of being a net-zero carbon business by 2040. Hannaford already has stores with the highest rating for clean energy usage and is investing heavily in regional solar farms. The TV ads are sponsored by the New England Consumer Alliance (NECA), which is linked to Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA). The CEA promotes energy solutions that favor the fossil fuel industry, because it is funded by the major oil producers. ~ Peter Konieczko, Scarborough