Opinion: Developer’s proposed power facility is a bad idea for Portland

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 22, 2026

One current development in downtown Portland that has not been attracting the attention it should is developer Portland Foreside’s proposal to build and operate a 20-megawatt natural gas-fired electric generation plant on its redevelopment property at the eastern end of the Portland waterfront. This has all the earmarks of a developer maneuver that will redound to the disadvantage of condo buyers and tenants in the project itself, ratepayers of the local electric utility, residents of the East End neighborhood and the overall welfare of the city of Portland, its business community and its inhabitants. ~ Peter L. Murray, Portland

Opinion: Push to ‘supersize’ aquaculture is not right for Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 22, 2026

President Trump’s calls to “supersize” the American aquaculture industry, outlined in a May 14 Guardian article, are increasingly framed as a path toward seafood independence and domestic food security. But in Maine, where industrial salmon farming operates, the reality is far more complicated. Maine is now the last place in the United States where Atlantic salmon are raised in open ocean pens, in the same coastal waters where endangered wild Atlantic salmon migrate and persist. In the context of ocean farming, the environmental concerns surrounding industrial salmon farming include nutrient pollution from fish waste and excess feed, the spread of parasites and disease in densely stocked pens and the risk of farmed fish escaping and interacting with wild populations that have evolved over thousands of years. ~ Crystal Canney,Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation; Dwayne Shaw, Downeast Salmon Federation

Opinion: Maine is working to avoid a catastrophic spruce budworm outbreak

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 21, 2026

The last spruce budworm outbreak, from the late 1960s through the early 1990s, killed 20 to 25 million cords of spruce and fir across northern Maine and cost the state’s forest economy hundreds of millions of dollars. Salvage clearcutting reshaped the landscape and poisoned the politics of Maine forestry for a generation. The current budworm outbreak began in Quebec around 2006 and has since caused severe defoliation across more than 15 million acres of spruce-fir forest. Its leading edge has already crossed into Maine. But this time, Maine isn’t waiting for the hillsides to turn brown. In 2025, the Maine Budworm Response Coalition, a partnership of landowners, the Maine Forest Service, University of Maine scientists, and industry partners, treated 241,416 acres of forest with low-toxicity insecticides. Treated sites experienced roughly a 95% decline in budworm populations. The math is working, and the forests are holding. ~ Naresh Khanal, graduate student in natural resource economics, UMaine

Waterville teens are asking for dark skies. The city is listening.

CENTRAL MAINE • May 21, 2026

A group of high schoolers wants a clear view of the night sky, and it’s helping the City Council make that happen. The Waterville Youth Council is currently drafting an ordinance to regulate public lighting in Waterville to reduce light pollution and promote dark skies. Youth council co-chairs Penny Graham and Taylor Amuso said they picked light pollution as their issue because it’s a fixable problem. When lights are off, the pollution goes away. When cities design their lighting fixtures to keep the sky dark, they prevent the pollution. They also save money.

The sun might be shining, but Maine’s waters are still dangerously cold

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 21, 2026

Spring might have finally arrived in Maine, but inland and coastal waters are still dangerously frigid. On a single day in May, the state saw two paddling deaths, one a sea kayaker near Deer Isle and the other a paddleboarder on Graham Lake in Ellsworth. Lindsey Chasteen, a spokesperson for the state medical examiner’s office, said cold water could have been a factor. Officials said they believe neither person was wearing a life jacket. State officials and people who work in outdoor recreation said a warm day can give paddlers and swimmers a false sense of security. Michael Daugherty, a registered Maine guide, described “the 1-10-1 rule.” A capsized paddler has one minute to get control of their breathing, 10 minutes before losing the ability to perform basic functions such as a self rescue and one hour in the water before losing consciousness because of hypothermia. His own interpretation is even more stark. “You either get out of the water immediately,” he said. “Or your chances are grim.”

The secret weapon for combatting black flies

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 20, 2026

Jokingly referred to as the “Maine State Bird,” black flies are one aspect of the Maine outdoors that most people would prefer didn’t exist. The female black fly feeds on blood for the nutrients it needs to lay hundreds of eggs. Black flies also contribute to a healthy freshwater ecosystem, serving as food for a wide variety of larger animals, including Maine native brook trout. While black flies can’t be avoided entirely, there are many things you can do to lessen the number of times you’re bitten when spending time outdoors. In addition to wearing repellent, it can be helpful to wear a hat, which will prevent black flies from crawling into your hair and biting your scalp. Glasses or sunglasses will shield your eyes, which black flies tend to be drawn to. “We suggest people who are gardening put a hardhat on and smear it with baby oil,” said Jim Dill, a pest management specialist with UMaine Cooperative Extension. “Those [black flies] will get stuck in the baby oil.”

One Nation, Under Fraud: The Penobscot Remonstrance and the Fight for Sovereignty

JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY • May 20, 2026

MDI Historical Society, Abbe Museum, and Jesup Memorial Library will host a panel discussion offering a critical examination of Maine's historical and legal relationship with the Wabanaki Nations. Drawing on archival records—including the 1942 Maine Legislative Research Committee hearings—and landmark court decisions such as Murch v. Tomer and State v. Newell, the discussion reveals how law and policy were shaped to control, diminish, and deny Wabanaki sovereignty. At Jesup Memorial Library and on Zoom, Bar Harbor, Sept 10, 5 pm.

Letter: Maine voters should prioritize the environment

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 20, 2026

Maine has made great progress eliminating pollution and protecting the environment. The Maine Climate Council reports that our forests, farmland, grasslands and wetlands offset 91% of Maine’s carbon emissions. However, much remains to be done. Voters need to focus on candidates’ positions on the environment. The Trump administration’s support of fossil fuels, defunding of renewable energy and gutting agencies that conduct research and collect data needed to address the climate change we see all around us must be resisted. Only we the voters can do it. Ed Muskie must be rolling over in his grave. ~ David Griswold, Auburn

Janet Mills calls Acadia’s $100 non-US resident entrance fee ‘ridiculous’

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 20, 2026

Gov. Janet Mills said on Wednesday that the Trump administration’s policy of charging higher entrance fees for non-U.S. residents visiting national parks — like Acadia — is “ridiculous” and “foolish.” “It’s not going to raise any money because they just won’t come,” Mills said.The statement comes after President Donald Trump implemented a $100 fee for all non-U.S. residents who visit 11 of the country’s most popular national parks, including Acadia National Park. A standard park pass for visitors with U.S. residency is between $20 and $35. The new fee — required for all non-U.S. residents who are 16 and over — started on Jan. 1.

Column: Why Maine game warden pilots are a special breed

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 20, 2026

Sooner or later, most career game wardens place themselves in harm’s way in the line of duty. The same can be said for game warden pilots, perhaps even more so. Maine warden pilots are often called upon to assist from the air in searches for missing people. More often than not, the weather is nasty, and warden pilots find themselves flying in dangerous conditions close to the treetops. On May 12, Maine game warden pilot Joshua Tibbetts, 50, lost control of his Cessna 185F and crashed near Schoolhouse Pond north of Farmington. He did not survive. Other Maine warden pilots were involved in fatal crashes in 1956, 1972, 2003 and 2011. Tibbetts, and all the Maine game warden pilots before him, are a special breed. We appreciate their sacrifice. ~ V. Paul Reynolds

Wyeth Foundation’s donation preserves Christina’s Maine world for the public

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 20, 2026

The field in Cushing that was the setting for Wyeth’s masterpiece has been donated to the Georges River Land Trust for the public to enjoy.

Bangor tied a heat record Tuesday. It may break one today.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 20, 2026

The mercury topped off at 89 degrees Fahrenheit in Bangor on Tuesday, tying the record set for May 19 back in 1962. Bangor has another shot at the record title Wednesday, with the weather service forecasting a high of 87 degrees here. That would surpass that record for May 20 of 86 degrees set in 2003.

Maine’s lumber mills, like the one in Searsmont, have known fire risks

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 20, 2026

Fires and explosions have long been threats to Maine’s lumber and paper mills. In April 2020, a pulp digester exploded at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay, sending smoke and debris more than 100 feet into the air. At Irving Forest Products in Dixfield, an explosion and fire in May 2021 damaged a machine used to move wood chips, and a fire last November caused serious damage to the sawmill building. “The fuel load at a lumber mill is exceedingly high,” said James Graves, director of the Maine Fire Service Institute. “They happen regularly.” But Graves said relatively few are as tragic as the fiery explosion at Robbins Lumber Inc. in Searsmont that injured 12 people and killed Andrew Cross, 27, a member of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department. Eight were still hospitalized Tuesday.

A Penobscot County sporting camp that hosted star athletes is selling for $1M

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 19, 2026

A longtime Maine sporting camp that hosted renowned professional athletes is on the market for just under $1.1 million. Established in 1898, the South Branch Lake Camps is perched on a roughly 6-acre peninsula, offering more than 1,670 feet of private shoreline. The property in Seboeis Plantation, roughly 45 minutes north of Bangor, contains 11 furnished cabins. The site was used as a sporting camp for decades and hosted celebrities including Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Bobby Orr and Jerry McKinnis, creator of “The Fishin’ Hole,” a television show that aired for 44 years on ESPN. It’s the second oldest running sporting camp in Maine.

Maine’s biggest ski resort is in a dispute over $150K of taxpayer money

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 20, 2026

Franklin County is asking Maine’s largest ski resort to repay roughly $150,000 in taxpayer money that officials say was improperly charged for an infrastructure project that fell apart. The county agreed in 2020 to subsidize a project by Sugarloaf that would have dammed the south branch of the Carrabassett River at its source, Caribou Pond, which lies in a small, wooded basin about six miles south of the resort’s entrance. The dam would have created a reservoir for the resort to use as a water source for snowmaking. In 2023, Sugarloaf officials said the project would have required construction along a road that intersects with the Appalachian Trail, and it was no longer happening as planned. But Sugarloaf kept charging the county anyway.

Sanford imposes emergency data center moratorium, halting Mousam River project

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 19, 2026

The City Council on Tuesday night approved a three-month emergency moratorium on data centers, temporarily stopping a proposal for a 1,000-acre center along the Mousam River. The council voted unanimously in favor of the 91-day moratorium, which puts a pause on the acceptance, approval or issuance of permits for any large scale data center proposal in the city. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until Aug. 12. 

Portland recycling plant to begin $36M expansion

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 19, 2026

Portland recycling company ecomaine will break ground this week on a $36 million expansion that will substantially increase its capacity, allowing it to bring on more member communities. When complete next year, the facility on Blueberry Road will process up to 25 tons per hour, an increase of more than 66% over its current capacity.

As the weather warms, Maine rescue workers emphasize hiker safety

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 19, 2026

As Memorial Day rolls around each year, there’s an uptick in rescue calls in towns near popular hiking spots, such as Rangeley and Stratton. The summer months are the busiest times for trails in western Maine. Hikers flock to the region to tackle the Appalachian Trail, the Bald Mountain Trail in Oquossoc and the Tumbledown Mountain hike in Weld — all of which see frequent calls for help. Responding to calls takes preparation and experience, but the stress factor responders feel really depends on the call.

EPA Seeks to Gut PFAS Protections, Leaving Millions Exposed to Toxic Forever Chemicals in Tap Water

NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL • May 18, 2026

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed to eliminate key current standards set to protect people from unsafe levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” in drinking water, reversing legal protections adopted in 2024. Additionally, the EPA has reversed course and stopped defending the standards in a federal lawsuit filed by industry seeking to eliminate them. The EPA has sought to obscure the impact of the rollback of the PFAS health standards by creating a “PFAS Out” program, but this is a PR stunt. The EPA’s proposals to roll back protections from forever chemicals pose a threat to the health of up to 105 million people across the nation whose water has been contaminated by PFAS.

Column: How not to look like a tourist in Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 18, 2026

If you find yourself among the hordes this summer, here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re giving the right impression.
• Don’t look too nice
• Walk with purpose
• Know how to order
• Talk about how things used to be
• Ignore everything you just read