Art exhibition shines a light on the beauty of Maine’s night sky

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025

On view through Feb. 28 is an exhibition that celebrates Maine’s clear skies and the ecosystem that thrives under the cover of night. The show is a collaboration between Waterfall Arts in Belfast, the Union of Maine Visual Artists and Dark Sky Maine. It includes more than 30 artists and a program of events that range from a lantern-making workshop to film screenings. DarkSky International is an organization that aims to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities and wildlife from light pollution. It has certified more than 200 places as part of the International Dark Sky Places program, which recognizes responsible lighting policies and effective efforts to reduce light pollution. The list includes two places in Maine — the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods.

Maine Calling: Plant-based eating, January 23

MAINE PUBLIC • January 17, 2025

A range of diets are centered on plants: vegan, vegetarian, plant-forward — which can also be called flexitarian. We learn about the history of and reasons for these food choices, and nationwide trends in dietary habits. Our panelists will offer some ideas and recipes for eating more fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and other ingredients. This show is tied to a Maine Historical Society Exhibit: “Maine’s Untold Vegetarian History.”

Commissioner urges lobstermen to move gear from area with dozens of right whales

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025

Maine’s marine resources commissioner is “strongly urging” lobstermen to move their gear from an area in the Gulf of Maine where over 70 endangered North Atlantic right whales were spotted earlier this week. “The ramifications of another entanglement in Maine gear could be devastating to your fishery,” Commissioner Pat Keliher said Friday afternoon.

Maine still relies heavily on fossil fuels but calls zero-carbon goals ‘achievable’

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025

Maine energy officials on Friday offered a sober assessment of the state’s reliance on fossil fuels as they released a plan touting advances in electric heat pumps and electric vehicles and outlined ambitious goals for offshore wind, clean energy jobs and other features of a zero-carbon environment. More than a year in the making, the Maine Energy Plan released by the Governor’s Energy Office boasted of the state’s “nation-leading adoption” of heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, helping to reduce the state’s dependence on heating oil, a goal set in state law in 2011. A technical report in the energy plan demonstrates that Maine’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2040 is “achievable, beneficial and results in reduced energy costs across the economy,” it said.

Maine Department of Marine Resources begins first bay closures for scallop fishing

MAINE PUBLIC • January 17, 2025

The Maine Department of Marine Resources will close several bays to scallop fishing this weekend, the first round of closures in the season this year. Scallop fishing will be halted this Sunday in Cobscook Bay along with Whiting and Denny's Bay, Upper Machias and Little Machias Bays and Upper Western Bay. Jeff Nichols, director of communications, said the process is a routine tool used to manage scallop populations. "Based on the survey work that we've done, we've made a determination that continued fishing in those efforts would deplete the resource to a point where it could not effectively recover," he said.

Nordic Aquafarms drops plan to build $500 million Belfast salmon facility

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 17, 2025

Nordic Aquafarms announced Friday that it is giving up on its plans to build a land-based salmon farm in Belfast. “This decision comes after long-fought legal challenges waged by opposition,” the company said in a statement, adding that it has spent “tens of millions of investment dollars and many years of planning and permitting” the project. The U.S. subsidiary of a Norwegian aquaculture company of the same name went public in 2018 with its plan to build a $500 million facility capable of producing 30,000 metric tons of Atlantic salmon per year in recirculating indoor tanks. The facility, which was to be built near the Northport town line, was to draw water from Penobscot Bay for its tanks and discharge wastewater back into the bay, but it was dealt numerous legal setbacks as it tried to secure that access.

More than 3 million people visited Maine state parks in 2024

MAINE PUBLIC • January 17, 2025

More than 3 million people visited Maine state parks in 2024, according to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Three million visitors represents a more than 6% increase over 2023 attendance and the third time in four years that visitation surpassed 3 million. Andy Cutko, director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands said crowding at popular parks like Tumbledown Mountain and Popham Beach can harm natural resources as well as the visitor experience so his agency is working to limit crowds. Many state parks are undergoing renovations in 2025 and he recommends that visitors call ahead before making plans to visit parks this summer.

Maine will now regulate new outbuildings in unorganized territories

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 17, 2025

Mainers building barns, sheds, garages or other outbuildings in unorganized territories will be required to notify the state starting at the end of January. The accessory structures typically don’t need permits in these areas, but the Land Use Planning Commission announced a new rule Friday requiring property owners to fill out a notification form with the state saying they’ll meet the required standards. Less restrictive land use regulations in the state’s unorganized territories are a draw for people looking for places to homestead. But the commission said in its announcement that the rule was created to address issues with buildings not complying with required standards

Offshore wind a key feature of governor’s energy plan

MAINE MORNING STAR • January 17, 2025

The Governor’s Energy Office on Friday submitted its strategic plan for delivering affordable and reliable energy while meeting the state’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2040. A key component of the plan, which was delivered to the Legislature, is developing offshore wind — the future of which remains in flux with the incoming administration of President Donald Trump.

Unsigned mailer targets Freedom residents days before solar vote

MORNING SENTINEL • January 17, 2025

Days ahead of a Jan. 21 vote, residents have received a letter in the mail urging them to vote against the town’s proposed Commercial Solar Ordinance. The letter, citing problems with the ordinance’s treatment of landowners and restrictions on solar development, is the latest push in a three-year fight between the town’s Board of Selectmen and Planning Board, each accusing the other of writing an insufficient ordinance while making a grab for power.

Climate change impacts threaten future of Maine lighthouses

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025

Maine’s lighthouses were added this week to World Monument Watch’s list of heritage sites threatened by a variety of forces, including neglect, wars and extreme weather driven by climate change. The state’s 66 lighthouses, in spots along the coast that were already vulnerable, are increasingly threatened by sea level rise and intensifying coastal storms, creating a challenge for stewards of the historic structures who now have to figure out how to repair them – and mitigate future damage.

Tractor-trailer and pickup trucks collide on Route 4 in Livermore

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.