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February 6, 2012
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Press releases, events, publications released, etc. from Maine environmental organizations and agencies. Submit content.
Maine Environmental News
Announcement - Sunday, February 05, 2012
Thanks for visiting Maine Environmental News, the most comprehensive online source available for links to Maine conservation and natural resource news stories and events. Since the start of 2009, I have posted more than 16,000 news articles and announcements. Be sure to check not only today's stories, but take a look at the headlines from the past several days as well. Articles often come to my attention a few days after they are published. ~ Jym St. Pierre, RESTORE: The North Woods |
Defining Wilderness: Defining Maine
Event - Posted - Sunday, February 05, 2012
This book discussion series is offered by the Maine Humanities Council. The discussions will be held at the Cary Memorial Library in Wayne on four Mondays: Feb 13, Mar 19, Apr 23, May 14. Discussion leader: Carol Kontos, English professor at UMA. |
Windfall
Announcement - Sunday, February 05, 2012
We can all agree that energy independence is a worthy objective, right? Alternative energy sources like solar power can help free the U.S. from fossil fuels and the grip of unstable Persian Gulf states. And wind power — wait, not so fast, says “Windfall,” Laura Israel’s urgent, informative and artfully assembled documentary. An account of rural Meredith, in upstate New York, when wind turbines came to town, the film depicts the perils of a booming industry and the bitter rancor it sowed among a citizenry. ~ Andy Webster, New York Times |
Intro to Winter Camping, Feb 10-12
Event - Posted - Friday, February 03, 2012
Introduction to Winter Camping with David Butler. This course will provide information about the skills to maximize your winter camping experience. At Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, Feb 10-12. |
Tracking with a naturalist, Feb 10
Event - Posted - Friday, February 03, 2012
Join naturalist Nancy Holmes to learn how to identify the animal tracks you will (hopefully) see in the snow this winter. At Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association office, Jefferson, Feb 10, 3:30 pm. |
Dirty Tar Sands Oil Coming Through Maine? Feb 9
Event - Posted - Thursday, February 02, 2012
Learn about the environmental and safety risks of this proposed project and about ways you can join the effort to prevent Portland from becoming the tar sands capital of the eastern U.S. The Canadian oil and gas giant Enbridge is proposing to pump dirty tar sands oil from Ontario to South Portland, where it would be shipped by tanker to refineries along the East Coast or Gulf of Mexico. The pipeline passes next to Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply for more than 15% of Maine people, and could endanger Casco Bay and our fishing and lobster industries. At USM, Glickman Library, Portland, Feb 9, 7-8:30 pm |
The Wildness Within: Remembering David Brower
Publication - Wednesday, February 01, 2012
The twentieth-century environmental movement owes much to a single man: David Brower. For the hundredth anniversary of David Brower’s birth, his son Kenneth Brower, an acclaimed nature writer, has brought together the testimonies of twenty environmental leaders whose lives and careers were transformed by David Brower; the result is a book in which a repertory company of path-forgers reveal their deepest values and most moving experiences. Available May 2012 from Heyday. |
Reducing coastal erosion, Feb 8
Event - Posted - Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Megan Facciolo, district manager of the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District, will talk about reducing coastal erosion. At Lamoine Town Hall, Feb 8, 7 pm. Sponsored by Lamoine Conservation Commission. |
Managing Your Timber Harvest, Feb 8
Event - Posted - Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Maine Forest Service District Forester Morten Moesswilde will talk about harvest planning, working with professional foresters and loggers, different harvest methods, wood values, closing out the job, and other aspects of harvesting. At Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association office, Jefferson, Feb 8, 6-8 pm. |
Birds, Bats & Blades-Wind Turbines & Wildlife, Feb 7
Event - Posted - Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Steve Pelletier, Wildlife Ecologist, Stantec, speaks about bats and wind power. At Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Nov 7, 7 pm. Sponsored by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay. |
Winter Extremes: Oh, Deer, Feb 7
Event - Posted - Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Regional Biologist Keel Kemper will discuss current wildlife issues, including the effects of severe winters on Maine's deer herd. At Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association office in Sheepscot Village, Newcastle, Feb 7, 6:30 pm. |
Great blue heron flies into Merryspring, Feb 7
Event - Posted - Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Danielle D’Auria, Maine wildlife biologist, will give a presentation on the Great Blue Heron at Merryspring Nature Center, Camden, Feb 7 at noon. |
Smelt/Ice Festival, Feb 3-4
Event - Posted - Saturday, January 28, 2012
Ice Cutting-Smelt Fishing Festival. At Mailly Waterfront Park, Bowdoinham, Feb 3-4. Part of a yearlong celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Bowdoinham. |
Family Winter Ecology Festival, Feb 4
Event - Posted - Saturday, January 28, 2012
This year’s Family Winter Ecology Festival will offer a variety of free indoor and outdoor activities for the entire family. At Merryspring Nature Center, Camden, Feb 4, 10 am to 12:30 pm. |
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Groups seek to aid organic milk producers
Bangor Daily News - Saturday, March 14, 2009
The Maine Farm Bureau board of directors on Friday endorsed a joint action with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association to help eight family organic dairy farms in Aroostook and Washington counties find a new market once their existing contracts with H.P. Hood are terminated this summer. |
Baldacci sees energy opportunity
Associated Press - Saturday, March 14, 2009
Gov. John Baldacci says he wants to be remembered as “the independent energy governor.” |
Growing Green: Ambitious energy plan piques interest of Maine’s lawmakers
Bangor Daily News - Saturday, March 14, 2009
Leaders in the Legislature are embracing a plan by businessman Peter Vigue, a Cianbro Corp. executive, that aims to transform Maine’s energy sector. The cornerstone of the plan involves leasing nearly 200 miles of state-owned land along Interstate 95 for a high-capacity electricity transmission line. Vigue proposes the conversion of homes from oil to electric heat using heat-pump technology and geothermal systems. |
Study: Maine codfish bigger
Bangor Daily News - Saturday, March 14, 2009
Cod that are spawned in Maine waters tend to stay there, and they grow larger but more slowly than their counterparts in other regions. That was one of the findings of a six-year study. |
Editorial: Promised Land
New York Times - Saturday, March 14, 2009
People who care about conserving open space are allowing themselves a bit of hope that the federal government finally will deliver on promises it made to the American people more than four decades ago. |
Bill would govern future water sales
Sun Journal - Friday, March 13, 2009
The Legislature's Utilities and Energy Committee voted unanimously Thursday in favor of a bill that would outline a formal process for public water districts when contracting with companies such as Nestle Waters North America, which owns Poland Spring Water Co. |
UMA forum sees eco-energy future
Kennebec Journal - Friday, March 13, 2009
The Danish island Samso dealt with producing energy in an environmentally sustainable way while cutting down on their consumption. |
Opinion: Has Obama finally liberated science from politics? Not exactly
Portland Press Herald - Friday, March 13, 2009
Barack Obama too, can be blinded with politics, not science, when it comes to making difficult public policy choices. For example, by halting development of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site, Obama made a badly needed expansion of nuclear power more difficult. And he condemned Maine to continue to store our radioactive waste in above-ground casks vulnerable to disasters and theft by terrorists. |
Opinion: Back bill to can ‘canned hunting’
Bangor Daily News - Friday, March 13, 2009
You might be surprised to know that in Maine we have places where people can hunt non-native wildlife that are confined in fenced-in acreage. It has a theme park environment in which the prize is a dead animal. |
Editorial: Coal Consequences
Bangor Daily News - Friday, March 13, 2009
Rep. Elsie Flemings will introduce a bill that would require the DEP to study the sources of Maine electricity and its impact on climate change and health in Maine. Her bill would require that information about and photos of mountain-top coal extraction be included in Maine electric bills. |
Editorial: Fewer Traps, More Lobsters
Bangor Daily News - Friday, March 13, 2009
There are 2.5 million lobster traps off the coast of Maine. That’s a lot of rope to entangle endangered whales. Starting next month, lobstermen will have to replace the line between their traps with a specialized rope that is meant to sink. The Ocean Conservancy has proposed another way to protect whales — putting fewer traps in the water. This simple concept is worth further consideration. |
Lincoln plant plans temporary layoffs, pay cuts
Bangor Daily News - Friday, March 13, 2009
Effective March 16, Lincoln Paper and Tissue Co. will place 17 production workers on temporary layoff for three months; place most hourly maintenance workers on temporary layoff each Friday for one day over a three-month period; and reduce pay for all salaried employees by 15 percent for three months. |
$69M to help Mainers realize energy projects
Bangor Daily News - Friday, March 13, 2009
Roughly $42 million of the money set aside for Maine will go toward weatherization assistance, while the remainder goes to the state energy program. |
Questions Raised About Governor's Energy Proposal
Maine Public Broadcasting Network - Friday, March 13, 2009
In his State-of-the-State speech, Governor John Baldacci talked about the possibility of locating electrical transmission lines within highway rights-of-way along the interstate. But already there are questions about whether that can be accomplished. |
Recycling Project Includes Garbage
Maine Public Broadcasting Network - Friday, March 13, 2009
Burlington, Vermont has one of the biggest compost operations in the Northeast. But it may be closed soon. The problems it faces offer lessons in large scale composting |
When the Super-Rich Go Green, They Do It Big
Other - Friday, March 13, 2009
Time - Edward Humes makes clear in his new book Eco-Barons: The Dreamers, Schemers and Millionaires Who Are Saving Our Planet, a surprising number of super-wealthy Americans are using their money to help protect the earth's quickly vanishing wilderness. |
Groups say designated lynx habitat inadequate
Associated Press - Friday, March 13, 2009
Some environmental groups say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's twentyfold increase in the designation of critical habitat for Canada lynx falls short, and they will sue the agency if the designation is not revised. |
Plum Creek Timber CEO got $4.3M 2008 pay package
Associated Press - Thursday, March 12, 2009
Rick R. Holley, CEO of real estate investment trust Plum Creek Timber Co., received 2008 compensation valued at $4.3 million, a 21 percent increase from his 2007 pay package. Plum's shares declined nearly 23 percent over the course of 2008. |
Bush limits on toxic reports removed
Associated Press - Thursday, March 12, 2009
The $410 billion spending bill that President Barack Obama signed Wednesday will reinstate detailed toxic chemical reporting at more than 3,500 facilities nationwide. |
FAA rejects 13 proposed turbines
Sun Journal - Thursday, March 12, 2009
One of two wind-power developers behind a proposed local project said Wednesday he was baffled by a recent federal ruling that rejected 13 of 22 turbines because of height restrictions. However, Record Hill Wind LLC Principal Rob Gardiner said he didn’t believe the Federal Aviation Administration ruling would hinder the $120 million project. |
Island’s energy independence touted as a model for Maine
Bangor Daily News - Thursday, March 12, 2009
Samso Island, about 20 kilometers off the coast of Denmark’s main peninsula, relies on 11 onshore wind turbines producing 25 million kilowatt-hours per year, which is 100 percent of the island’s yearly energy needs. There are 10 more offshore turbines which produce more than enough energy for Samso’s transportation needs. |
Baldacci unveils more energy plan details
Bangor Daily News - Thursday, March 12, 2009
Gov. John Baldacci on Wednesday said that a one-stop-shop within state government of energy programs would be aimed at making it easier for home or business owners to get the help they need to make their buildings more energy efficient. |
Biomass complex sells for $6 million
Bangor Daily News - Thursday, March 12, 2009
New York-based Prospect Capital Corp. auctioned off its biomass plant in Washington County to recoup an unpaid mortgage. With no other bidders, Prospect Capital posted the winning bid of $6 million. |
State gets surprise bottle-deposit check
Bangor Daily News - Thursday, March 12, 2009
State officials were surprised when they got a check for unredeemed bottle deposits of nearly $1 million, nearly as much as is usually collected in a year. A company had found it had been in violation for several years and wanted to make good on it. |
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Natural Resources Council
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Do I Dare to Plant a Peach? | | It's a sign that Maine and the nation are getting hotter, according to a new analysis by the U.S. De... | | 1/30/2012 12:00:00 AM |
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Maine Organic Farmers and
Gardeners Association
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The myth of the self-made yeoman |  By Gene Logsdon – No figure is more endearing and enduring in agriculture than the lonely plowman out there on the horizon who raises himself by his own bootstraps to financial success. Only problem is, there is no occupation more dependent on the cooperation of society and nature to achieve success than farming. | | 11/2/2011 12:00:00 AM |
Sharp, careful eye brings Maine mushrooms from forest to table |  By Avery Yale Kamila – On a crisp morning at the end of October, chef David Ross and I step off a dirt road in Kennebunk and head into a forest dominated by pines and smaller hardwood. Our objective: To track down a few chanterelles and any other wild mushrooms we can find this late in the season. This trip will mark one of the last of the year for Ross, who is an avid mushroom forager and the owner of 50 Local in Kennebunk. | | 11/2/2011 12:00:00 AM |
New climate prediction: ‘Weird’, getting weirder |  By Seth Borenstein (AP) – For a world already weary of weather catastrophes, the latest warning from top climate scientists paints a grim future: more floods, more heat waves, more droughts, and greater costs to deal with them. A draft summary of an international scientific report obtained by The Associated Press says the extremes caused by global warming could eventually grow so severe that some locations become “increasingly marginal as places to live.” | | 11/2/2011 12:00:00 AM |
What to feed your chickens to get the best eggs |  By Nina Lalli – "I have a theory, and I don't think you're gonna like it." Justin was seated across from me at a communal table in a "Secret Restaurant." We had met not half an hour before, but were now deep in discussion about what chickens should eat to produce the best-tasting eggs – an obsession of mine recently. | | 11/1/2011 12:00:00 AM |
Factory farming: not just on land anymore |  By Wenonah Hauter – When most people think of factory farming they typically think of feedlots, hog factories or chicken operations–not massive open net pens growing millions of fish in our oceans. However, factory fish farming will soon pose many of the same threats to the environment and to consumers as its land-based counterparts. | | 11/1/2011 12:00:00 AM |
Bt resistant rootworm spreads | | By Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji – Bt is a toxin from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces a large family of similar proteins that target different insect pests; and quite a few of them have been incorporated in genetically modified crops to act as ‘biopesticides’. Unfortunately, the pests soon develop resistance to it. | | 10/31/2011 12:00:00 AM |
Cranberry juice beats extract at fighting infection |  By Christine Lepisto – Just between you and me, ladies, what do you do when you feel that irritating burn, knowing it can only mean a urinary tract infection? Do you run to the doctor's office for antibiotics, only to fight the yeast infection that sets in when drugs knock other systems out of balance? Then you probably haven't heard yet that cranberries can fight infections naturally, and very effectively. | | 10/30/2011 12:00:00 AM |
‘Hobby farm’ couple do part, feed hungry |  By Bill Nemitz – It's not uncommon for someone to show up at the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen in Augusta with a bag full of fresh broccoli, tomatoes or other leftovers from their garden. In recent months, however, Glenn and Rachel Powers have taken that kind of community support to a whole new level. They're giving away the farm. | | 10/30/2011 12:00:00 AM |
New England shrimp target cut in half | | AP – Portland: Fisheries regulators have set the start date for the shrimp season and halved the target for the amount of shrimp to be caught by New England fishermen. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission on Friday set a target of 2,000 metric tons, compared with 4,000 metric tons the year before. | | 10/29/2011 12:00:00 AM |
The life of a seaweed gatherer |  By Daniel Klein – Most of the seaweed we get these days is farmed. But way up in northern Maine, Larch Hanson is still harvesting it wild in its many varieties on the rugged coast. This video isn't about the details of that process, however. It's about the essence of life for Larch, who rises at dawn to cut seaweed and then writes Zen poems about it. | | 10/28/2011 12:00:00 AM |
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