Denmark approves minor updates to strengthen water extraction ordinance amidst drought

MAINE MONITOR • January 11, 2025

In the last week of one of Maine’s driest falls on record, a meager turnout of just 19 Denmark residents unanimously voted to expand the town’s authority over bottled water behemoth Poland Spring and large-scale water extraction from local aquifers. The amendment approved at a Dec. 14 special town meeting gives Denmark powers to reduce or halt private water extraction when aquifer levels hit certain thresholds and to require large-scale extractors like Poland Spring to apply for new permits when their corporate ownership changes.

Column: Trump can’t reverse Biden’s energy policies soon enough

SUN JOURNAL • January 11, 2025

As President Biden prepares to shuffle off the stage, he has just banned new offshore drilling along an enormous swath of the U.S. coastline as part of “the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in our country’s history.” If you are grateful that God gave the U.S. cheap and abundant energy, and want to keep it that way, Biden can’t leave soon enough. America is an oil and gas superpower. It should be unapologetic about it, and leverage every last drop for our economic and geopolitical advantage. Trump should enlist Congress to reverse the Biden ban. ~ Rich Lowry

Letter: Wind and solar are key to energy future

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 11, 2025

Up and down the East Coast, we face the same needs to meet a rising demand for electricity. Some voices in the incoming administration are arguing that wind and solar must be excluded from the electrical grid. No convincing reason is given for this argument, and such an exclusion would make it far more difficult to prevent power blackouts from demand outstripping electricity supply. With nuclear fusion more than 10 years in the future, and climate change a real thing, we would be foolish to put all our energy needs in the fossil fuel basket. Fossil fuel interests are of course arguing for exactly that, out of pure financial self-interest. ~ Chris Wiegard, Chester, Va.

Column: Amateur photographers pose risks to owl survival

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 10, 2025

This is turning into a better-than-average snowy owl year. Great photos taken in Maine are turning up on Facebook and on other social media. Some photos are so awesome, they are calendar-worthy. Normally, I would be worried about how much stress the owl endured to produce such breathtaking photos, but there are hopeful signs. Rare owls only come to Maine because they can’t find enough food up north. Getting flushed by a too-eager shutterbug doesn’t help. It may force the owl to expend what’s left of its energy reserves. It’s not just snowy owls. Two other Canadian owls draw the same crowds: the northern hawk-owl and great gray owl. ~ Bob Duchesne

You just lived through the hottest year on record — again

WASHINGTON POST • January 10, 2025

Scientists in Europe Friday confirmed that 2024 had been the hottest year on record — and the first to surpass a dangerous warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) that nations had pledged not to cross. But even as experts described the year as unprecedented, they acknowledged that it would ultimately become just one more marker in an upward warming trajectory causing havoc on a growing scale.

Large multifamily development proposed for Stetson Road in Auburn

SUN JOURNAL • January 10, 2025

The developer behind the Mt. Auburn Apartments is proposing a 180-unit multifamily development on Stetson Road. The proposal, which will be in front of the Planning Board on Tuesday, would place 22 duplexes and 34 quadplexes on the land between Stetson and North River roads, not far from Center Street.

Yarmouth approves Royal River dam removal to restore waterway and its inhabitants

FORECASTER • January 10, 2025

The Yarmouth Town Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to remove the dams on the Royal River after decades of study and deliberation on how to restore to their wild state sections of the river that runs into Casco Bay. Proponents argued the removal of two dams in Yarmouth would improve the river ecosystem by restoring aquatic habitat and increasing fish passage through the river.

Trout Unlimited to remove 200-year-old dam in Buckfield

SUN JOURNAL • January 10, 2025

The Select Board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to enter into a memo of understanding with Trout Unlimited to remove the Brush Shop Dam on the Nezinscot River, which is over 200 years old. Built in the early 1800s, the structure is near Tilton’s Market on Turner Street. Gene McKenna, the conservation chairman of the Merrymeeting Bay chapter, said the removal would benefit brook trout as they migrate to colder waters upstream. It would also allow the river to return to its natural state. He saw no danger of flooding downriver when the 10-foot dam is removed.

How will natural gas factor in to Maine’s cleaner energy future?

MAINE MORNING STAR • January 10, 2025

With only about 50,000 commercial and residential natural gas customers in Maine, there is a looming question about how much it will continue to contribute to the state’s energy mix. Public Advocate William Harwood and environmental advocates would like to see its use wind down in the coming years, but others say the resource is the stopgap needed for Maine to reach its clean energy goals. While the state waits for an analysis to help guide utilities into the future, there are generally two schools of thought on how natural gas factors into a more climate-friendly energy mix. Since it is cleaner than coal or oil, some view it as a bridge to more reliance on renewable energy sources as dirtier fossil fuels come offline. Others want to scale back its use, given that it still presents environmental risks.

Maine’s Katahdin Region Shines as One of America's Best Snowmobiling

WBLM • January 9, 2025

As anyone in Maine can attest, the state is an outdoor lover's dream. No matter the season or location, Maine offers year-round adventure. So, it's no surprise that one of the state's favorite outdoor pastimes has earned a national recognition. In a popular article, the renowned travel guide Fodor's highlighted the best snowmobiling trail systems across the United States, and Maine made the cut. The Katahdin Region, known for its expansive beauty, was proudly featured among the top 11 destinations.

Lake Auburn water quality remains stable after dry, hot year

SUN JOURNAL • January 9, 2025

Lake Auburn, which serves as the drinking water for both Lewiston and Auburn, has been under the microscope from politicians and environmentalists over the past several years due to the changing climate and development pressures. Due to historically clean water, the cities hold a waiver from filtration, which allows the water to be delivered to customers without a costly filtration plant. However, water quality must remain pristine in order for the waiver to be maintained. Despite water levels roughly 4 feet below average and some of the warmest temperatures on record, the water quality at Lake Auburn is solid, according to new Watershed Manager Danielle Olsen.

Maine DOT selects new operator of Rockland rail line

MAINE PUBLIC • January 9, 2025

The Maine Department of Transportation has chosen a Unity company to operate the freight railroad line that stretches from Brunswick to Rockland. Maine Switching Services currently repairs rail cars and provides car switching services to paper mills in Rumford and Skowhegan. According to the DOT, the company plans to resume freight service this spring along the Rockland Branch Railroad and plans to offer scenic train excursions by the fall. But Maine Switching Services has not offered to operate passenger rail service along the line, meaning a proposal to extend Amtrak Downeaster service from Brunswick to Rockland remains on hold for now.

Future of Brunswick recreation space in flux

TIMES RECORD • January 9, 2025

After a year of hearing environmental concerns raised by the community, the plan for what happens with 230 acres of town property (Former Maine Gravel Services and Captain William Fitzgerald Recreation and Conservation Area) will be reviewed in a final public forum Saturday before heading to Town Council. Sherry Mason, chairperson of the committee, predicts determining what rules will be in place will draw pushback. For instance, whether to allow hunting and where and how dogs should be present on the property, given the abundance of wildlife there. One resident who lives near the property is calling on the committee to reconsider including a swimming area in the pond, citing a concern for local ecosystems and impact to her family’s well-water quality.

South Portland debates natural vs. artificial grass at planned athletic facility

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 9, 2025

During an almost four-hour meeting at South Portland High School, parents, residents, city employees and industry representatives debated the virtues of artificial turf, a synthetic plastic product designed to replicate grass. Supporters said the artificial turf allows for more play time and lower maintenance costs, while opponents said the product contributes to plastic pollution and increased injuries. Sarah Woodbury, of Defend Our Health, made her pitch that artificial turf can contain toxic chemicals like PFAS, so-called “forever chemicals” that can cause cancer, and slough off microplastics into waterways. In 2029, a Maine ban on all artificial turf that contains PFAS will go into effect, and Woodbury said her organization will introduce a measure in the Legislature this session that would institute a three-year ban on all synthetic turf.

Topsham hopes to adopt updated Climate Action Plan

TIMES RECORD • January 9, 2025

Topsham is ironing out updates to its decade-old Climate Action Plan, with a new draft expected to be ready in the next few weeks. The Topsham Energy Committee started working on the updates with the Topsham Planning Department in 2023. The plan originally focused on greenhouse gas emissions and subsequent actions to limit them, but it is now refocusing on multiple aspects of climate-related impacts on Topsham. Among the expected updates to the town’s 2012 Climate Action Plan is an infrastructure assessment for adaptation and mitigation strategies, along with a look at peoples’ susceptibility to the effects of climate change. Topsham plans to have around half of its land in conservation to prepare for sea-level rise. The Climate Action Plan will be on the warrant at the annual Town Meeting in May.

Researchers enlist public to map out vanishing Casco Bay mussels

MAINE PUBLIC • January 9, 2025

Wild blue mussels were once a common sight at low tide in rocky crevices along Casco Bay. But the population seems to have disappeared in over at least the past decade. Aaron Whitman with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute said predators such as invasive green crabs, a warming ocean and other factors may have pushed mussels to find shelter in the deeper subtidal zone. Blue mussels used to cover more than two-thirds of the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine, but are down to less than 15% of their historic habitat, according to a 2016 study. Now scientists are enlisting the public to help them locate clutches of mussels surviving in deeper water. Upcoming extreme low tides are on Jan. 10, 11, 12, 13, 28 and 29. To participate volunteers can visit the institute's ecosystem investigation network.

The Dirt on Acadia

NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION • January 9, 2025

It was a gorgeous morning in late June, and we were in what might be the most idyllic section of Acadia National Park. We stood at the edge of Hemlock Bridge, one of the park’s famous stone archways, listening to the waters of Maple Spring Brook trickle below. It was a perfect day, but I wasn’t there to enjoy the views. We had work to do. Just behind us, a trail cut 2 miles steeply uphill through forest and boulders and ultimately to the granite summit of Sargent Mountain. The National Park Service wanted to bring thousands of pounds of soil up to the peak to help save the park’s most imperiled ecosystem, and managers had determined that the best way to do it was for us, a group of regular people, to lug the dirt there on our backs. The goal of the Save Our Summits project is to restore native vegetation atop Acadia’s famous granite peaks.

Schools embrace nature as a classroom

TIMES RECORD • January 9, 2025

Entering 2025, the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA) announced its next Outdoor Learning Program mini-grant recipients, continuing to bring local students closer to nature through climate education and Wabanaki studies. This year, 149 educators across 16 counties received $156,057 for experiential, nature-based projects. Since the grant program’s launch in 2020, MEEA has allocated $787,271 for outdoor learning in public schools statewide, reaching over 108,000 students. The latest mini-grant cycle will support projects that invite Wabanaki guest speakers to engage with students and teach about the cultural significance of basket making, ash tree protection and traditional hunting, fishing and gathering practices. A list of all the mini-grant recipients by county is available on the MEAA website.

Acadia Artist-in-Residence Participants for 2025

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK • January 9, 2025

Art and artists played a key role in the history of Maine’s Downeast Region, and the founding of Acadia National Park. The Artist-in-Residence program is dedicated to creating new ways for visitors to experience Acadia through the arts. The Acadia Artist-in-Residence participants for 2025 include: painter Nathan Allard, of Somerville, ME; poet Samantha DeFlitch, of Plymouth, NH; glass and light artist Abigail Donovan, of Eugene, OR; writer Shokoofeh Rajabzadeh, of Chappaqua, NY; and musician Caitlin Smith, of Farmington, MN.

What caretakers of one Midcoast landmark learned a year after devastating coastal storms

TIMES RECORD • January 9, 2025

A year ago, two back-to-back storm slammed Maine’s coasts with extreme winds and high tides, wiping out swaths of working waterfront. Historic buildings, including the old fog bell house at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, suffered heavy damage as ocean-facing walls were ripped open and washed out to sea. A crew of helpers worked quickly to stabilize what remained of the structure before the next storm hit on Jan. 13. As the first anniversary of the storms approaches, Shelley Gallagher, director of Bristol Parks and Recreation, reflected on the lessons learned and measures taken to enhance climate resilience. Fiber rebar and stainless steel turnbuckles were added between brick layers to support the roof, allowing the structure to endure harsh weather conditions for decades while maintaining its historic look.