I took advantage of an unseasonably warm November weekend by striking west to Grafton Notch for an out-and-back hike along the Appalachian Trail (AT) to Baldpate Mountain. My partner Hannah and I met our good friend Kylie at the Old Speck Trail parking area after a scenic drive along Route 26, leaving Old Speck behind Read More
A New Vision for Transportation in Southern Maine
Every five years, we get a glimpse at the newest vision for Southern Maine’s transportation future when the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) updates its long-range transportation plan. This year’s iteration, Connect 2045, arrives during an exciting time of major investment in transportation innovation from the state and federal level. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Read More
More Pollution-free Electric School Buses Coming to Maine
Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that school districts across Maine have been awarded funding from the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to purchase 34 new zero-emission electric school buses. This news comes just a year after Maine debuted its first electric school bus at Mount Desert Island High School, a bus Read More
The Community Cider Press: A Maine Fall Staple
The sensations of fall induce nostalgia more than any other season. The crackling of leaves underfoot, the panoply of brilliant canopy colors, the crisp air, the hearty meals, the growing assortment of Halloween decorations. Each of these sights, sounds, smells, and tastes transports me to a memory of time well spent with others. The joy Read More
Quiet and Proud: What Electric Vehicle Owners are Saying
If you’ve spent any time recently on Maine’s roads, you’ve likely recognized an emerging reality: the transition to electric vehicles is well under way, and more Mainers than ever are driving electric. Recognizing that there are still a lot of questions about this new technology, we decided to go straight to the thousands of Mainers Read More
A Jaunt in the Bigelows
The Bigelow mountain range is one of Maine’s true gems. The stark ridgeline thrust up by tectonic movement millions of years ago was made even more dramatic by glacial scouring within the last 20 millennia, resulting in a bedrock spine extending 18 miles along the entire length of Flagstaff Lake. The range is home to Read More
Exploring Maine’s Beaches in the Offseason
For most people, “beach season” is a very specific time of year in Maine: that luxurious four-month spell of warm weather from June to September when the sun convinces visitors to brave the icy bite of the Gulf of Maine. For some more intrepid recreationists, the off-season holds promise for surfing as winter swells bring Read More
Melt, Renewal, and Bogs — Maybe March Has Its Merit
For most of my quarter-century in Maine, March has been my least favorite month. Unpredictable weather conditions, slushy roads, mud everywhere, and hardly a touch of green make for a grueling 31 days as we wait for flowers to poke through. The ski season is coming to a close, the snow is rapidly disappearing, and Read More
Support of LD 2026, Resolve Related to Appliance Efficiency Standards
Senator Brenner, Representative Tucker, distinguished members of the Committe on Environment and Natural Resources. My name is Josh Caldwell. I am the Climate and Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I am submitting this testimony today in support of LD 2026, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 180: Appliance Read More
