Eastport residents push City Council to oppose DeepGreen’s underwater AI data center

MAINE MONITOR • May 27, 2026

In February, DeepGreen Western Passage SPV LLC applied for a 48‑month preliminary permit with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct engineering and environmental studies, the first step toward developing a tidal‑powered underwater AI data center off Eastport, according to the filing. A group of residents concerned about the proposed data complex have asked councilors to consider a temporary moratorium to pause the project. Resident Birdy Velveteen says that the area identified for the data center’s on‑shore cables includes wetlands protected under Maine’s Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act.

Decoding Data Centers: Local Impacts and Strategies for Community Preparedness, June 4

GROWSMART MAINE • May 27, 2026

Jay, Sanford, Limestone, Wiscassett, Eastport, Scarborough, Lewiston have each been in the news as a prospective host community for data center development in Maine. Data centers will have significant impact on local economies, the environment, and electrical infrastructure. How can communities prepare themselves to approach planning and development decisions that balance a diverse array of local priorities? Growsmart is hosting a webinar, June 4, about the unique impacts and considerations associated with data center developments and a discussion of the strategies for empowering communities in Maine.

Trails around Rangeley Lakes region getting upgrades

SUN JOURNAL • May 27, 2026

As the summer season quickly approaches, the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is expanding trail upkeep on its properties around the region. The nonprofit manages over 40 miles of trails, all with their own needs to stay in shape for public use. Molly Shaw, communications director for Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, said, “There’s a lot that goes into trail building,” Shaw said. “It’s not just clearing some brush and hacking down a trail. There’s kind of an art form to it.”

Wild blueberry farms across Maine suffer as climate change upends growing seasons

MAINE MORNING STAR • May 27, 2026

Last summer, the wild blueberry fields at Crystal Spring Farm turned red too soon. Severe drought had gripped most of the state of Maine. At his farm in Brunswick, Seth Kroeck knew the leaves were changing color prematurely because the blueberry plants were stressed. Berries shriveled before they could ripen. The farm’s 2025 harvest was almost a total loss. “In the last seven years, we’ve lost the crop three times, almost completely,” he said. As the climate changes, these losses are getting more common for wild blueberry farmers. And, experts say, the solutions are pricey. From buying equipment to drilling wells to trucking in loads of mulch, major one-time investments are difficult for small farms with thin profit margins.

Crews contain wildfire in Maine’s North Woods

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 26, 2026

Crews have contained a wildfire deep in Maine’s North Woods. The Pine Stream Fire broke out Sunday in T4 R13 WELS, near Chesuncook, in Piscataquis County, according to the Maine Forest Service. The 10-acre fire was burning in an old timber harvest. By Tuesday morning, that fire had swelled to about 25 acres.

These Katahdin trails are now open to hikers

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 26, 2026

Katahdin hiking season has officially opened. The Hunt and Abol trails up Katahdin opened to hikers Tuesday, as well as the Traveler Ridge trails in the northeastern end of Baxter State Park. The remaining trails up Maine’s highest mountain — Cathedral, Dudley, Hamlin Ridge and Helon Taylor — are closed to hikers until further notice. Katahdin’s weather can quickly change, and hikers should be prepared to encounter strong winds and chilly temperatures near the summit, even in summer. Hikers can reserve a day-use parking spot on Baxter State Park’s website, by calling the reservation office at 207-723-5140 or by visiting the park’s headquarters in person in Millinocket. A reservation isn’t needed for hikers who are camping in the park.

Three Ways that a New Land Monitoring System is Transforming How We Manage Forests

NASA • May 26, 2026

The world has lost over 2,000,000 square miles of tree cover since 2000—equivalent to the total land area of India and Mexico combined.  Of that total, around 36% is estimated to be permanent deforestation. Much of this forest loss is driven by agriculture, wildfires, and logging. For those in charge of managing our planet’s vast forests, tracking each tree felled is a nearly impossible task. But not catching new logging operations, illegal deforestation, or the onset of forest fires can lead to polluted waters, habitat degradation, and out-of-control blazes. That’s where the global land change monitoring system DIST-ALERT comes in. It provides rapid alerts each time vegetation is disturbed.

Interested in bird-watching in Maine? Join the flock

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 26, 2026

A federal study published in 2024 found that 96 million people in the United States had either traveled one or more miles from home to observe birds, or tried to identify birds around their homes. That’s one in three people over the age of 16. The hobby is becoming more inclusive and diverse. Some high school have a Maine Young Birders Club. In June, a new Maine chapter of the national Feminist Bird Club will host its first event at Owl’s Head State Park. Birders recommended digital tools managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, including the Merlin app, which can help ID birds based on characteristics and sounds. People of all ages still reference printed field guides.The Maine Birding Trail is another suggested resource.

UNE sues Biddeford after city denies permit for controversial pier project

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 26, 2026

The University of New England is suing Biddeford in York County Superior Court, where the school said it is asking a judge to reverse the city’s denial of a permit request. UNE has already appealed to the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, which upheld the denials earlier this month. The school wanted a permit to remove about 50 trees from its property, to allow for an access road to a planned research pier on the Saco river. Commercial fisherman who say they fear the construction will disrupt their moorings.

Opinion: A California law is hurting Maine farms and consumers. Congress can fix it.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 26, 2026

As inflation sweeps through the Maine economy, residents are desperate for relief — from gas to the grocery store. Fortunately, help could be on the way via the 2026 Farm Bill. The legislation passed the House in April and now awaits sign-off from the Senate. Central to the package is a fix to California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of normal pork and eggs in Golden State supermarkets. The only option for shoppers are Whole Foods-style products at expensive Whole Foods-level prices. Developed with little to no input from farmers, veterinarians or experts in animal care and food safety, Prop 12 is hurting cash-strapped farms everywhere. ~ Will Coggin, Center for the Environment and Welfare

Opinion: Bowdoin’s proposed Kingfield campsite would be a win-win

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 26, 2026

Bowdoin College’s proposed campsite in Kingfield would include seven gravel campsites on a 20.7-acre lot. At full capacity, it could have 28 tents. This is not a place for students to go up and party. It would be one of the options students have to better see our great state. Although I am not a part of the Bowdoin Outing Club, I know the organization’s general attitude. It is made up of students and staff who are respectful and want to see as much of Maine’s outdoors with the little time at Bowdoin that we have. The college has pledged to donate $5,000 a year to the town to maintain the roads after initial improvements. Maine ought to be shared with those who have not had the chance to get used to the expansive wilderness around us. With this proposed campsite, my college is looking to do just that in the most safe and respectful way possible. ~ John “Jack” Donoghue, senior, Bowdoin College

How Donald Trump’s policies are slowing a Maine mill’s revival

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 26, 2026

The Iran war is delaying progress on a western Maine data center, the second time recently that President Donald Trump’s policies have interfered with the redevelopment of an old paper mill in a town that has staunchly supported him. A Pakistani company that bought the retired paper machinery can’t remove it so construction can begin. That’s because Iran has blocked ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime route, since the war started in February. Last year a separate project to redevelop the mill site fell apart when the Republican president’s tariffs became too burdensome for the forest products company that wanted to set up there. Trump’s policy decisions quickly threw wrenches into the town’s economic revival.

New study says consumers may pay more for lobster caught with ropeless technology

WMTW-TV8 • May 25, 2026

A new study has found consumers are willing to pay over $3 more per lobster roll if the meat was harvested using ropeless technology. The study, led by University of Maine business school associate professor Angie Zheng, surveyed 2,000 people across the United States. Traditional lobstering methods use ropes to connect the trap on the seafloor with the buoy on the surface. However, those ropes may be harmful, even deadly, to the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association says entanglements with fishing gear are the leading cause of death for the right whale. There are fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales left.

The 10 hikes across Maine that will get you from your couch to Katahdin this year

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 25, 2026

The clock is ticking and you’ve got to get ready for the big Katahdin climb, but you don’t know where to start. Not to worry. You’ve got all summer to go from the couch to Katahdin, but it’ll take a little discipline and some regular hiking to improve your physical fitness, which will increase your safety measure and maximize enjoyment of your day on the peak. To train for tackling lofty Katahdin you’ll want to start small — a local hill, for example — and slowly but surely work your way up to higher mountains, longer miles and larger elevation gains. 
• Bradbury Mountain
• Bauneg Beg Mountain
• Great Pond Mountain
• Round Top Mountain
• Cadillac Mountain
• Mt. Zircon
• Caribou Mountain
• Little Jackson Mountain
• Old Speck

The websites and essential lists to know before you hike

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 25, 2026

There is a lot of advice online for where to hike, what to bring and how to maximize your time outdoors on the trails. Here is Carey Kish’s list of some sites to familiarize yourself with before hitting the trails, to ensure you hike safely, have a good time and respect nature. A few websites for Maine trails: mainetrailfinder.com, mainebyfoot.com.If you follow our couch-to-Katahdin guide to hiking, here are two sites to consult with information on Baxter State Park: Baxter State Park, baxterstatepark.org, Friends of Baxter State Park, friendsofbaxter.org. According to the National Park Service, here are 10 items they consider the essentials for safe hiking in case of minor injuries or changes in weather. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has advice on how to safely and ethically hike and explore the outdoors in a way that has minimal impact on nature.

Maine man creates a 45-acre pasture to feed his ‘millions and millions’ of bees

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 24, 2026

The nectar started flowing in Sangerville about three weeks ago, and the honeybees are busy. On a tour this week of his hives on a hill at Nubik Ranch, Paul Borowski noted the millions of bees were already better organized than they had been in April as they came and went, carrying pollen. He’s cultivated the pasture to support his commercial beekeeping operation, which includes producing honey for sale and beehive colonies and queens that he raises and sells to other beekeepers.

Clean energy groups encourage public financing for electric transmission

MAINE PUBLIC • May 24, 2026

A new analysis from two pro-clean energy groups suggests that publicly financing high-voltage power lines in New England could save electric customers more than $9 billion over the next few decades. Jamie Dickerson, senior director of climate and clean energy programs at the Acadia Center, said New England's transmission system is old and needs significant investment, with nearly $12 billion already in the development pipeline. ISO-New England estimates up to $26 billion in transmission investment will be needed over the next 25 years. Funding those expected projects with private debt and equity adds significant cost to electric customers. Shifting financing to government bonds, public-private partnerships and other methods could realize big savings compared to profit-driven financing.

CAT ferry reservations are up 30% at start of 2026 season

MAINE PUBLIC • May 24, 2026

The high-speed CAT ferry is back sailing again between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.Bay Ferries Ltd., which operates the service, said pre-season reservations are up nearly 30% as compared to last year. As of mid-May, about 17,770 passengers have made reservations, for an increase of roughly 4,000 bookings. Bay Ferries said the increase is primarily driven by strong interest from Americans wanting to travel to Nova Scotia.

Following the alewives: Gardiner students wade into science on Cobbossee Stream

CENTRAL MAINE • May 24, 2026

Alewives, a species of river herring, migrate by the millions from salt water to fresh water every spring along the East Coast including Maine to spawn. On Tuesday, Gardiner Area High School freshman were scraping off scales and sliding them into an envelope science teacher Elissa Carter held so the scales collected from each fish could become part of a 10-year set of data on alewife migration on the river that flows from Cobbossee Lake through Pleasant Pond and into the Kennebec River. The scales are used to determine the age of the fish. But instead of the fish being able to continue upstream to spawn, that’s as far as they’ll be able to go, before they likely die. They are stymied by dams.

This 1,500-mile running of the bees brings 21 million workers to Maine’s blueberry barrens

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • May 24, 2026

After spending the winter in Florida, millions of bees from Maya’s Apiary join the snowbirds journeying to Maine, to pollinate the state’s wild blueberry crop. Wild blueberries are the only crop in Maine that depend on non-resident honeybees. The state has native wild bees, which are perfectly capable of pollinating the low-bush berries as they have for millennia. But over the last 50 years, the state’s wild blueberry growers have increasingly relied on traveling honeybees working in tandem with the native pollinators for much higher yields. “In most fields, there are not enough background native bees to fully turn every one of those wild berry blossoms into a fruit, which, of course, is our producers’ goal,” said Eric Venturini, executive director of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine. “A bee has to hit every one of those blossoms.”