SUN JOURNAL • January 17, 2025
A pickup truck and the tractor-trailer truck collided and a utility pole was struck late Thursday night on state Route 4, near the Turner line. The fuel tank on the tractor-trailer truck ruptured and fuel leaked out.
Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition Rolls Out Its 2025 Common Legislative Agenda
The 2025 Maine Legislative Session has begun. On 01/17/2025, Nick Janzen, Partnerships Director, and Cathy Breen, Director of Government Affairs at Maine Conservation Voters/Alliance, unveiled the Environmental Priorities Coalition (EPC) Common Legislative Agenda—a slate of policy priorities designed to address the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, protect Maine’s land, water, and wildlife, and promote healthy communities. Convened and facilitated by Maine Conservation Alliance, the EPC is an inclusive statewide alliance of 40 conservation, climate action, and public health organizations working together to secure a sustainable future for Maine.
Central Maine snowmobilers face new, snowless normal
CENTRAL MAINE • January 17, 2025
Much of central Maine just isn’t getting the snow it needs for snowmobiling. It’s been an issue for several years in a row now. “Down here in Kennebec County, I’m afraid our years are probably up,” said Ernest Rice. “Unless we get some real drastic change in the climate, we’re done.”
A PFAS-free fire suppressant made with Maine wood could fight wildfires
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025
A University of Maine researcher, James Anderson, was exploring the capabilities of sawdust that, when ground down to a microscopic level, turns into a watery goo. He realized the material — known as cellulose nanofiber or biogel — had all the right qualities to be an effective fire extinguisher. What if the solution to fighting fires was using the same material that was burning? The cellulose nanofiber quickly put out flames, stuck to surfaces for a long time, was much better than water at preventing fires from reigniting and is completely natural – free of toxins or forever chemicals called PFAS that harm people and the environment. Now, Maine is the No. 1 global public supplier of the material. But getting it certified will take time and money.
Column: It can be mesmerizing to watch a murder of crows
MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 17, 2025
A “murder” is a colloquial name for a collective group of crows. We could just call it a flock but a murder is a “term of venery” as it is only used to refer to crows. In the winter we get many reports of large congregations of crows, typically in the evenings. These massive groups often cause (unwarranted) alarm. Safety is apparently a major factor in forming roosts, as you are much less likely to be picked off by an owl if you have thousands of others keeping a lookout, and statistically you are less likely to be chosen if there are thousands of other options. Studies also show that warmth and information sharing play a role in roosting. Go look for a crow roost. It is one of the largest congregations of birds we still get to see. ~ Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon
Trump tasks congressman with writing executive order he could issue to halt offshore wind
ASSOCIATED PRESS • January 16, 2025
President-elect Donald Trump tasked a New Jersey congressman and vocal critic of offshore wind with writing an executive order he could issue to halt wind energy projects. Offshore wind is a major part of transitioning to an electric grid powered entirely by sources that don’t emit carbon dioxide when generating electricity. The power sector is responsible for nearly a third of the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to end the offshore wind industry as soon as he returned to the White House. He wants to boost production of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change.
FEMA reimburses Farmington for flood damage
SUN JOURNAL • January 16, 2025
Between Dec. 23, 2022, and Dec. 18, 2023, there were four storms resulting in significant flood damage resulting in $952,514.38 in claims to FEMA by Farmington. With any FEMA claim, the federal government pays 75% of each claimed amount, the state pays 15% and the local share is 10%. Federal share for the four claims was $714,385.78, the state share was $142,877.16 and the local share was $95,251.44, according to Bridges. “By the end of this month, we should receive the last payment,” Leia Bridges, administrative assistant for Farmington Fire Rescue/Public Works noted.
Coyote hangs out at Bates campus in Lewiston
SUN JOURNAL • January 16, 2025
At first glance, you’d swear the animal sat and patiently posed for the photographer’s camera. Tom Roth, a wildlife guide and columnist for the Maine Sportsman, said there does not appear to be anything wrong with the coyote hanging out in Sun Journal’s Russ Dillingham’s neighborhood. “It is completely natural to see coyotes in urban settings now because they’re sprawl is increasing and they are living amongst us,” Roth said. Wildlife officials say make sure that pet food, garbage or other food items are not left outside the home and accessible to the animals. Small pets should be kept under control and not free to roam.
Rep. Golden reintroduces proposal for 10% tariffs on imports as a supportive Trump takes office
MAINE MORNING STAR • January 16, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine has reintroduced legislation to impose a 10% tariff on all imports, doubling down on his push as President-Elect Donald Trump, who has said he’d support such a tax, takes office next week. Golden’s legislation would put a 10% tariff on all goods and services imported into the U.S. Each subsequent calendar year, the tax would increase or decrease by 5% depending on whether the U.S. is in a trade deficit or surplus, respectively. Conservative think tanks championing trade-protectionist policy have voiced support for Golden’s proposal. Tariffs are popular with voters while economists are, and long have been, skeptical of their merits. When Trump imposed heavy tariffs in 2018, iconic Maine industries — lobster and blueberry — faced retaliation from China and the European Union.
Trout Unlimited to host informational event on insects and fly-fishing
TIMES RECORD • January 16, 2025
The Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting “Insects and Fly-Fishing: A Winning Combination” from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Sea Dog Brewing, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham. Imitating stream, lake and pond insects is one of the most important tools in a fly fisher’s bag of tricks. Well-known fly-fishing entomologist Eric Frohmberg will show videos of how insects behave and relate that to fly-tying and fly-fishing techniques.
Los Angeles is burning. Could it happen in Maine?
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 16, 2025
In late October 1947, massive wildfires swept across the state. By the time the fires were extinguished, they had burned more than 200,000 acres, destroyed 900 year-round and 400 seasonal homes, left 2,500 people homeless and killed 16 others. The fires burned half of Acadia National Park, nearly wiped out nine communities and permanently changed Mount Desert Island and York and Oxford counties. Advances in firefighting technology and woodlands management have reduced the likelihood that they would burn out of control like they did in 1947. “Unfortunately, the fire devastation of 1947 could occur again under the right conditions. With climate change contributing to weather extremes, the risk of large-scale wild fires remains,” said Kent Nelson, a retired Maine forest ranger specialist.
Opinion: Maine is smart to make producers responsible for packaging waste
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 16, 2025
The packaging industry strategy has been simple: convince individuals it is their responsibility for litter, not the manufacturers. In addition to the annual $11.5 billion spent on litter collection, the costs for collecting, transporting, sorting and recycling materials, including plastics, is about $400 per ton. Who is responsible for these costs? 50 state governments, 38,736 local governments and 127,483 million households, enabling producers to externalize the costs of collecting and recycling their single-use products. There is a simple, effective approach to reduce plastic pollution and increase recycling: shift financial responsibility for packaging waste to producers through extended producer responsibility (EPR). EPR is the most cost-effective approach to improve packaging, reduce costs, increase recycling and minimize plastic pollution. ~ Megan Mansfield-Pryor, councilor-at-large for the city of Bath; Travis Wagner, Ph.D., professor emeritus of environmental science and policy at the University of Southern Maine
Maine snowmobile clubs are desperate for snow even as some trails open
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 16, 2025
Maine’s snowmobilers are on the cusp of having a good year, if they could just get more snow. There’s enough for a good base and some riding in the Moosehead Lake area and regions of western Maine, but connecting trails have little to no snow. And what they have gets beaten up quickly with use, is the consensus among several clubs. Snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding brought in $108 million at the end of the season in 2023, up from $68 million in 2022, according to the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Maine event showcases the ‘future of agriculture’
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 15, 2025
Automated farming equipment dealers are sharing floor space with old-time horse loggers in the Augusta Civic Center this week at an event that’s drawing farmers from around the state. Maine’s 84th annual agricultural trade show started Tuesday morning and runs through Thursday, hosting more than 70 presentations, organizations, businesses and educators. The annual event organized by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry billed itself this year as a way to “discover the future of agriculture.”
Janet Mills proposes higher fees for fishing licenses and handgun permits
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 15, 2025
Gov. Janet Mills is proposing higher fees for fishing licenses along with optional concealed handgun permits in her two-year budget proposal that lawmakers will scrutinize. The $11.6 billion plan includes various tax hikes alongside cuts to create a balanced budget and fill a projected $450 million shortfall through 2027.
PFAS contamination found on more than 100 Maine farms
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 15, 2025
With their multiyear investigation not yet halfway complete, Maine state inspectors have identified more than 100 Maine farms and 500 residential properties contaminated by the harmful forever chemicals left behind by sludge-based fertilizer use. Maine has had to order fewer than a half dozen farms to stop selling their milk or food, Hennessey said. Some farmers who had positive soil or water tests were able to prove through additional tests that their food products were safe to eat. Others voluntarily pulled their food products from the shelves. The state has installed 500 water filtration systems. Maine DEP estimates it could install the additional 165 water filtration sites likely to be needed and stay within the program’s $28.8 million budget.
Nearly 500 acres of forest to be preserved in Somerset County
MAINE PUBLIC • January 15, 2025
Land for Maine's Future approved the last piece of funding for the purchase of nearly 500 acres of forest in Western Maine yesterday, including land along the Carrabassett River. Dubbed ‘Whitten Woods’ for the family that owns and manages the forest, the new land conservation area is over 455 acres in Somerset County. Somerset Woods Trustees executive director Jennifer Brockway said the additional funds from Land for Maine’s Future should make acquisition of the land possible by April 2025. The organization has been raising funds to purchase the land for over two years. It will be the first public land conservation area in New Portland.
Biden administration drops slowdown rule for ship speed limits aimed at saving right whales
MAINE PUBLIC • January 15, 2025
The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will drop proposed ship speed limits that were aimed at reducing collisions with North Atlantic right whales. Regulatory officials said there wasn't enough time to review the 90,000 comments they received and finalize new ship speed rules before the Trump administration takes office next week. Ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are the two leading causes of death and injury to right whales. The population has roughly 370 individuals remaining.
At least 70 right whales have grouped off Jeffreys Ledge
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 15, 2025
Dozens of North Atlantic right whales — more than 15% of the estimated global population — are gathered off Jeffreys Ledge, east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, triggering a slow zone for boaters. Surveyors at the New England Aquarium spotted at least 70 individual whales grouped in a small area on Sunday. Whales were observed in close proximity to “large amount” of fixed fishing gear,” which presents a high risk of entanglement,” the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said. Mariners are asked to slow to a maximum speed of 10 knots. Following that guidance is voluntary, but knowingly approaching a right whale is illegal. “Boaters are also reminded that approaching a right whale closer than 500 yards is a violation of federal law.”
Maine gets $22M to boost development of new wood products
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 15, 2025
Maine has received $22 million in federal funding to scale up commercial development of new wood-based technology, such as environmentally friendly building and packaging materials. The funding is earmarked for the state’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub, which is led by the Maine Technology Institute. Federal money will pay to stand up the hub with management and staff and provide grants for innovative technology proposed by companies. The other half of the funding will be earmarked to the University of Maine to commercialize business ideas. From 2000 to 2020, average employment in pulp and paper mills dropped by 72% in Maine.