Five bond proposals that would make needed investments in Maine’s roads and bridges, colleges and universities, research and development, land conservation, and waste water and drinking water treatment passed the legislature in May. The House and Senate gave two-thirds majority votes of approval to each of the proposed bonds.

“A jobs bond will give our economy a much needed shot in the arm,” said Rep. Emily Cain, the House Minority leader. “The best way to improve our economy is by making more investments that will help small businesses, job training and public education.”

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Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and Know Technology, LLC are hosting a special Café Scientifique at the Strand Theater, 345 Main Street in Rockland, Maine at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, 2012. The event, titled Changing Seas, Human Challenges — A Conversation between a Scientist and a Journalist, will be a discussion with Bigelow Executive Director Dr. Graham Shimmield and journalist Colin Woodard, author of American Nations, The Lobster Coast, and Ocean’s End. Shimmield and Woodard will talk about current ocean issues and challenges including extraction pressures on the ocean for food, energy, and new products; ocean acidification as a result of climate change; and the effects of melting ice caps and harmful algal blooms such as red tides.

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Among its actions this week, the Legislature defeated a controversial “regulatory takings” bill that would have cost Maine taxpayers millions of dollars, caused a proliferation of lawsuits, and blocked future laws that may be necessary to protect Maine’s environment, people, and communities. This action came when the House and Senate voted to “indefinitely postpone” LD 1810—which means the bill is now officially dead.

“This risky, costly, and radical proposal would have undermined the laws that protect Maine’s environment and communities,” said NRCM Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim. “Despite a massive effort by lobbyists to force this dangerous bill through the legislature, a bipartisan majority held firm and refused to support it. Common sense won the day over ideology.”

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The projected pipeline

Last night Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge announced plans for a massive increase in pipeline capacity to bring dirty tar sands oil from Canada to global markets via the United States. One of the biggest components of the plan is to reverse the flow of its entire crude oil pipeline between Ontario and Montreal, for the purpose of transporting tar sands crude oil east. This would be the full build-out of Enbridge’s portion of the so-called “Trailbreaker” pipeline project in development for several years. This announcement could bring tar sands oil nearly to New England. The rest of the original Trailbreaker plan would bring tar sands oil by also reversing the flow of an existing pipeline from Montreal to Portland, Maine.

“This announcement reveals Enbridge’s true intentions to bring tar sands oil to our region,” said Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “This is exactly why NRCM and others have been raising concerns since last August about dirty and dangerous tar sands coming our way. This announcement brings one of the world’s dirtiest fuels one step closer to Maine.”

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Freeport watershed

A recently completed joint study between the Maine Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey not only shows that the Freeport watershed has an adequate water supply for local use, but it also has resulted in a new, three-dimensional computer model that will help future water studies, according to state officials.

The two-year Freeport study, published in 2012, is the most exacting analysis of water withdrawal from this watershed done to date, and the study approach already is being applied to another site, said Dr. Robert Marvinney, Maine state geologist and project manager.

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Heralding the economic benefit of conserving Maine’s natural resources, citizens, fishermen, sportsmen, conservationists, and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle called on the Legislature to replenish the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program by supporting LD 852, a $5 million bond proposal designed to help fund working waterfronts, farmlands, and forests; wildlife habitat; and special recreation lands across the state. If passed, Maine voters will have the opportunity to vote on an LMF bond this November.

“Conserving Maine’s land and natural resources is an investment in today’s jobs and tomorrow’s prosperity for our children and grandchildren,” said Senator Roger Katz, a Republican from Augusta who sponsored the legislation. “Our natural resources are what set Maine apart – they are our biggest competitive advantage. Preserving and conserving them has got to be a top priority as we develop and grow. This is a value shared by families and businesses across the state.”

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Turner Farm, Maine

The Senate Agriculture Committee passed a farm bill late last week that contained a number of provisions to support local and organic farms. All of those provisions were included in the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act, introduced by Pingree earlier this year.

“I was glad to see that this bill adopts some key programs that will support smaller farmers and organic farmers and make it easier for consumers to have access to local food,” said Pingree, a member of the House Agriculture Committee. “Local food is good for the economy and good for families. Consumers want access to local food and it’s time our agriculture policy start catching up with that.”

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2012 marks the 50th anniversary of Silent Spring, the landmark book that helped launch the modern environmental movement. To commemorate the anniversary, Maine Audubon will show a short biographical film in remembrance of the book’s author, scientist, and ecologist, Rachel Carson. The film will be followed by a panel of experts who will discuss and share perspectives on continuing threats to wildlife and humans from toxic chemicals in our environment.

“Rachel Carson helped spark a movement that Maine Audubon and many other organizations and conservationists carry on today,” said Maine Audubon Executive Director, Ted Koffman. “Maine Audubon’s mission follows Carson’s vision of educating and providing awareness of the need to sustain our planet’s diverse wildlife and for public involvement in habitat conservation.”

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ORPC's tidal turbine prototype on display in Portland. Photo by Ramona du Houx

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has determined the contract terms and directed three utilities to negotiate with Ocean Renewable Power Co.(ORPC) to put the company’s tidal power electricity onto the grid this summer. The company’s all-composite tidal turbines will be the first tidal project to be connected to the grid in Maine. The composite technology was developed in partnership with the University of Maine.

“This is the first long-term power purchase agreement for tidal energy in the United States,” said ORPC CEO Chris Sauer . He says the contract will cover a term of 20 years.

ORPC intends to install its first underwater turbine unit this summer in Cobscook Bay off Eastport. The first turbine unit will be capable powering 20 to 25 homes.

ORPC plans to install its full-scale tidal turbine unit at the same location over the next two years powering up more than 1,000 homes by 2016.

A new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists found that current U. S. Department of Agriculture policy is encouraging large-scale farming at the expense of smaller, diversified farmers who raise a variety of crops and animals. The report, “Ensuring the Harvest: Crop Insurance and Credit for a Healthy Farm and Food Future,” recommends a number of reforms that are included in a bill written by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. The release of the report today comes as the Senate Agriculture Committee is taking up a new farm bill to set the nation’s food policy.