An estimated 10 trillion plastic pellets make their way into oceans each year, where they can take 100 to 1,000 years to break down, according to a report by The Pew Charitable Trusts. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jul 7, 2026 Environmental groups said tiny plastic pellets are increasingly showing up in U.S. waterways, threatening wildlife […]
Signs were posted last summer at Maine’s Acadia National Park, asking the public to report any visible information deemed negative about America’s past. Data obtained from QR codes used by visitors revealed overwhelming support for the factual interpretation of science and history. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jun 23, 2026 A federal judge has ordered […]
Maine’s climate commitments are to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 45% (from 1990 levels) by 2030 and 80% by 2050, and achieve net-zero by 2045, according to the Acadia Center. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jun 5, 2026 Climate activists in Maine said the Trump administration’s latest investment in coal-fired power plants will put the U.S. further behind in renewable energy development. Federal officials said they will spend nearly $700 million to build, modernize and restart coal plants nationwide. The administration said the move will create more than 14,000 jobs and reinforce the reliability of the nation’s electric grid. Amy Eshoo, director of the advocacy group Maine Climate Action Now, called the investment a step in the […]
Between January 2025 and January 2026, Home electricity prices in the U.S. rose nearly 9.5%, according to the Sierra Club. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley Jun 3, 2026 As electricity rates continue to climb in Maine, a new online data tool shows the state’s low-income households bear the heaviest energy burden in the nation. The Sierra Club compiled Department […]
According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of planned data centers in the U.S. are in rural areas, while 87% of existing data centers are in urban areas. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE May 26, 2026 By Julia Tilton for The Daily Yonder. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration […]
Data centers, especially those powered by natural gas, emit significant pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, methane and fine particulate matter, which can increase rates of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular conditions, according to the Environmental Health Project. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE May 21, 2026 By Kathryn Carley\ A new Maine Data Center Advisory Council aims to protect ratepayers and minimize the […]
American women spend an average 4.5 hours per day doing unpaid work, compared with 2.8 hours for men, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE By Kathryn Carley May 15, 2026 By Haley Swenson and Leah Ruppanner for Better Life Lab at New America. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for […]
A Center for Rural Strategies poll reveals a gender divide when it comes to economic concerns with 24% of rural women saying they are “very worried” about having to choose between paying for medical bills, including prescription drugs, or paying for food and utilities, compared to just 17% of rural men. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the story HERE May 14, […]
February 24, 2025, by Adrijana Buljan The UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme for Allocation Round 7 (AR7). One of the proposed reforms is relaxing eligibility criteria for fixed-bottom offshore wind farms so projects that have yet to obtain full planning consent could participate in […]
Listen to the story HERE. By Kathryn Carley August 20, 2024 Conservation groups across New England are seeking permanent protections for the Cashes Ledge Area in the Gulf of Maine. Often called the ‘Yellowstone of the North Atlantic,’ it contains rare ecological structures, a treasure trove of marine life and one of the deepest cold water kelp forests along the […]
April 10, 2024 The Mills Administration released the following statements today in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finalized national drinking water standard for PFAS. “PFAS contamination threatens the health of our people, our wildlife, and our environment. My Administration, working closely with the Legislature, has spearheaded one of the strongest efforts in the nation to address PFAS, including proactively establishing an aggressive, temporary drinking water standard,” said Governor Mills. “My Administration appreciates this new, national drinking water standard, which builds on our nation-leading work, as part of the critical effort to protect the health of Maine people. The Maine CDC will closely review the new standard and take steps to align Maine’s temporary standard with the new Federal one.” In […]
April 15, 2024 Governor Janet Mills announced today that she will allow LD 1578, An Act to Adopt an Interstate Compact to Elect the President of the United States by National Popular Vote, to become law without her signature. Under the legislation, Maine joins the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would only take effect if the coalition secures pledges for at least 270 electoral votes – the threshold needed to elect a president. Sixteen states and Washington, D.C. have joined the compact for a total of 205 electoral votes thus far. With Maine, the total of electoral votes increases to 209 – 61 short of the compact taking effect. Governor Mills issued the following statement: “I have spent the past […]
Maine Insights Newsmagazine 