By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Central Maine Power is pushing for a huge transmission line that would cross large areas of Maine’s undeveloped North Woods, including the famous Kennebec Gorge. The line would allow Hydro-Quebec, a government-owned Canadian company, to sell its electricity at a premium in Massachusetts. The Read More
tourism
Study Links Air Pollution to Drop in National Park Visitors
Acadia, included in the study, does occasionally exceed air quality standards but the worst offenders are in California. by Matthew Brown, Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story DENVER – Visitors appear to be steering clear of some U.S. national parks or cutting visits short because of pollution levels that are comparable to what’s found Read More
LePage Administration Agrees to Post Signs Directing Drivers to Katahdin Monument
The state had held off on posting signs while the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument was under review by the Trump administration. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The LePage administration has agreed to allow signs on Interstate 95 and state highways directing drivers to Katahdin Woods and Read More
18 Months After Its Creation, National Monument in Northern Maine to Get Road Signs
By Susan Sharon Maine Public news story It has been 18 months since former President Barack Obama designated the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in northern Maine — but there are still no road signs to direct interested visitors where to go or how to get there. Republican Gov. Paul LePage made headlines last Read More
Environmental Group Sues LePage, Says Wind Farm Ban is Unconstitutional
The Conservation Law Foundation says the governor’s action violates the constitutional separation of powers. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A regional environmental advocacy group has gone to court in an attempt to overturn a moratorium that Gov. Paul LePage imposed last week on most new wind energy projects in Maine. Read More
Wind Power Moratorium Reignites Tourism vs. Clean Energy Debate
by James McCarthy Mainebiz news story Gov. Paul R. LePage issued an executive order Wednesday putting the brakes on the state’s permitting of new onshore wind projects. In doing so, he’s renewed the longstanding debate over whether there’s greater value in Maine’s scenic mountains for tourism than for wind energy. His order also created the Read More
LePage Moves to Block Most New Maine Wind Energy Permits
By Christopher Cousins and Michael Shepherd, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday placed a moratorium on permits for most new wind turbines in Maine, a move that could reverberate regionally a day before Massachusetts is set to announce winners in a massive clean power procurement plan. Read More
LePage Blocks New Wind Energy Projects, Creates Secretive Commission to Study Impacts
The longtime critic of wind energy says he’s acting ‘to protect our natural beauty,’ and allows the new panel to craft regulatory changes without public scrutiny. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage imposed a moratorium Wednesday on new wind energy projects in western and coastal Maine Read More
Offshore Drilling Threatens Important Maine Industries
Tourism and fishing depend on a clean coastline – so why isn’t our state exempt from the oil exploration planned by the Trump administration? Portland Press Herald editorial The Trump administration Tuesday removed the waters off Florida – and only Florida – from the list of areas newly open to offshore drilling, and in doing Read More
