January 14, 2021 By Ramona du Houx The domestic terrorist attack of January 6, 2021 on the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. during the official ceremonial process of tallying the votes from the 2020 Presidential Election has heighten security across the nation at State Capitols. The counting of the states electoral votes had already become a mockery by Sen. Ted Cruz and other Senate and House Republicans who disrupted the proceedings insisting on an investigation into voter fraud in an attempt to invalidate the election, even though over 60 courts and numerous officials have declared the election for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Although the process was delayed by the riot, a brave Congress reconvened the same day to […]

Projects Will Help Achieve Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard Goals January 15, 2021 By Ramona du Houx The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC)) issued a Request for Proposals on January 15, 2021 for the Sale of Energy or Renewable Energy Credits from Qualifying Renewable Resources. A bidder may also offer to sell capacity as part of its proposal. “The solicitation released today stems from bipartisan clean energy legislation I signed in 2019, which puts Maine on a trajectory to meet its nation-leading targets for curbing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and developing affordable, renewable energy resources right here in our state,” said Governor Mills. “As called for by Maine’s four-year Climate Action Plan, Maine Won’t Wait, I am committed to creating […]

In conjunction with DHHS & Maine CDC, Governor Mills focuses limited vaccine supply on older Mainers and those with high-risk medical conditions who are more likely to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19 Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills today announced updates to Maine’s strategy for distributing its limited allocation of COVID-19 vaccines targeted toward preventing serious illness and saving the lives of Maine people. The Governor, in consultation with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), is dedicating the limited vaccine supply to older Maine residents, beginning with those 70 and older; additional emergency service personnel such as police and firefighters; and people who support infrastructure critical to […]

01/13/2021 AUGUSTA, Maine – In response to growing interest in solar development in Maine, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) recently issued new technical guidance with additional online solar siting and energy efficiency resources to encourage solar development in ways that avoid or minimize impacts to agricultural and forested lands, as well as other ecologically sensitive natural lands. DACF’s Technical Guidance For Utility-Scale Solar Installation and Development on Agricultural, Forested, and Natural Lands provides practical information for landowners to utilize when considering solar development. The document also provides technical guidance for solar developers when designing, installing, and removing solar projects. “The Department fully supports the State’s goals for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and pursuing renewable energy generation. We […]

On Friday, January 22, at 1:00 pm, the Camden Public Library will host local poet Kristen Lindquist for a 90-minute Haiku Writing Workshop. This free online program is part of the library’s Jumpstart January series aimed at inspiring people to try something new in 2021. Email jpierce@librarycamden.org to request a Zoom link to participate. Originating in Japan over 500 years ago, the haiku is now the world’s most popular poetic form, written in many languages and shared internationally in journals, books, and online forums. “Anyone can learn to write this deceptively simple poem,” says Lindquist. “It’s just three short, unrhymed lines—but it can take a lifetime to master.” In this introductory workshop participants will learn a brief history of this intriguing form, as […]

“The Trump administration is kicking off the new year and its remaining weeks by finalizing its illegal bird-killer policy,” said Sarah Greenberger, senior vice president for conservation policy, National Audubon Society. “This brazen effort will most certainly be in vain as the administration already found out in court that it can’t unilaterally gut the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and its obligation to protect and conserve birds. On January 5, 2020, the Department of the Interior released its Record of Decision (ROD) in the last step to strip away critical protections in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The effort has received widespread and bipartisan opposition including from members of Congress, more than 25 states, numerous tribal governments, scientists, sportsmen, birdwatchers, and 250,000 […]

January 4, 2020 Dr. Clare E. Mundell filed a civil rights lawsuit against Acadia Hospital and Northern Light Health for unequal pay, sex discrimination, and unlawful retaliation for her opposition to her unequal pay. She filed her complaint in the Bangor federal district court. After nearly two years of working as a psychologist for Northern Light Acadia Hospital, Dr. Mundell discovered that she had been paid an hourly rate a little over half as much as her male counterparts. Dr. Mundell earned $50 per hour, and the men in her department made $90 and $95 per hour, respectively. When Dr. Mundell reported this glaring pay disparity to management, instead of apologizing and taking immediate corrective action, they refused to admit that this […]

January 4, 2021 By Ramona du Houx Shenna Bellows was sworn in January 4, with a formal acceptance ceremony in the House Chamber of the Maine State House. Secretary Bellows is the Maine’s first female Secretary of State and the 50th person elected to the office. The Secretary of State is one of Maines three constitutional officers, along with the State Treasurer and Attorney General. All three, as well as the statutory office of State Auditor, are elected by the Legislature. There is a movement gaining momentum to let all the people in Maine vote on their constitutional officers. Secretary Bellows previously served two terms in the Maine Senate from 2016-2020, representing 11 towns in southern Kennebec County. In the […]

Bipartisan Group of Senators Including Collins, King: Voters Have Spoken, Congress Must Fulfill Responsibility On January 3, 2021 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to issue the following statement on the upcoming Congressional certification of the 2020 Presidential election results:   “The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted. At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election […]

By Ramona du Houx Isle au Haut has received $211,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to install a solar power array, enabling the island to receive 100 percent of electricity from clean, renewable solar power.  This funding was awarded through the USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). “Located seven miles off Stonington, Isle au Haut is a small, remote island in the Gulf of Maine,” said Senators Collins and King.  “This funding will provide this rural island community with clean, renewable, locally generated power.  In doing so, the island will be able to lower its electricity rates for years to come.” Once installed, it would provide 100 percent of electricity needs on the island for […]

By Ramona du Houx Community solar has increased exponentially since Maine Insights first reported on its possibilities. After a struggle with the LePage administration the siting and construction of solar panel farms ins on the increase. Even during the dark days of the anti-solar governor, the solar industry persisted. In Oxford, Maine a parcel of land adjacent to the railroad tracks which extends into Paris will be the site of a 30-acre, $8 million, solar farm scheduled to go online in 2021. ISM Solar Development recently opened an office in Poland to oversee the project. The East Providence, Rhode Island, company is already working on 10 solar projects throughout the Maine. “The land has been on the market for several […]

January 1, 2020 By Ramona du Houx The Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) and The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) helped distribute $47,960 in grant funding to 38 Maine farms through the Maine Farm Emergency Grants program, in December. This is the second round of funding the two organizations have collaborated to fundraise and administer in response to the needs of Maine farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of MOFGA, notes, “Dealing with the day to day impacts of the coronavirus on top of a severe drought this summer has made for a difficult year for farms across the state. As we begin winter it’s important that we continue to support these businesses that are […]