February 17, 2022 “This initiative provides immediate relief for Maine people from increased electricity rates caused by escalating costs of natural gas,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office.  The Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) unanimous approval of a one-time utility bill credit of $90 for low-income Maine households will help 90,000 low income Mainers. “We recognize the importance of this assistance during a time when energy costs are increasing globally,” said Commission Chairman Philip L. Bartlett II. “We also have an open proceeding looking at revising our Low-income Assistance Program to provide longer term relief for utility customers most in need. For those still in need of assistance, we urge you to speak with your utility or visit the […]

February 15, 2022 As outlined in Governor Mills’ 2020 Made for Maine Health Coverage Act, which passed in the Legislature on a bipartisan basis, Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa issued an Order that will merge Maine’s Individual and Small Group Health Insurance markets. This historic action will create more stable pricing in both its Individual and Small Group health insurance markets, starting in 2023. The merger, which will pool the risks of the two markets and roll the Small Group coverage into the Maine Guaranteed Access Reinsurance Association (MGARA), is projected to reverse the trend of steady premium increases and declining enrollments in Maine’s Small Group Market, while supporting continued stable pricing in the Individual Market. Superintendent Cioppa has applied to the […]

February 10, 2022 The Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted Monday to advance a proposal by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, to increase behavioral health support for Maine’s first responders. The vote was 6-5 with two members absent. LD 1504 would ensure Maine’s first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical services and public safety telecommunicators, have access to behavioral health care services that will mitigate the impact of traumatic events encountered in the line of duty. “Our firefighters and first responders are exposed to traumatic events on the job, from routine calls to community-wide tragedies. This has a cumulative impact on these brave men and women over time,” said Rep. Gramlich. “I have worked closely with stakeholders on […]

By Ramona du Houx February 11, 2022 In a 10-2 vote, a bipartisan majority of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee voted last week to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, that would protect public safety facilities from sudden utility service disconnection. As amended, LD 1847 would require a public utility to provide 60 days’ advance written notice to public safety facilities of its intent to terminate or disconnect service, as well as to obtain prior authorization from the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Safety. A committee amendment also requires that the utility carry out the law without demanding additional guaranteed profits as part of future rates. At the bill’s public hearing last month, Berry […]

JANUARY SALES SET SECOND-HIGHEST NUMBERS ON RECORD February 18, 2022 Maine realtors experienced the second-best January sales month on record for single-family existing homes last month. According to Maine Listings, while the statistics technically indicate a decline of 7.2 percent in sales compared to January 2021, overall numbers are still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic years. Madeline Hill, 2022 President of the Maine Association of REALTORS® and Designated Broker at Roxanne York Real Estate on Bailey Island, explains. “Buyer demand remains strong for residential real estate in Maine. Home sales in January 2022 are above the pre-pandemic January 2020 sales volume by nearly 10 percent but are 7.2 percent lower than January a year ago. Markets remain strong statewide but are constrained due to the low availability […]

February 4, 2022 Ramona du Houx GWI, Arctaris, and the Finance Authority of Maine will form a public-private partnership to bring affordable, high-speed internet to East Millinocket, Millinocket, and Medway, as well as parts of Belfast and South Portland. “Ensuring that Maine people and businesses have access to high-speed, affordable broadband is vital for our state’s economic recovery and future prosperity, which is why my Administration has prioritized improving connectivity across Maine,” said Governor Janet Mills. “Public private partnerships like these help drive forward these efforts, and I applaud GWI, Arctaris, and FAME for working together to expand access to low-cost, high-speed broadband, particularly in the Katahdin region.” GWI and Arctaris will build more than 240 fiber-optic route miles, and the networks […]

February 19, 2022 A study published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in August 2021 found the Gulf of Maine, which stretches from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, is warming faster than 99 percent of the world’s oceans. With warming oceanic temperatures comes sea level increases. Portland, Maine experiences flooding during high tides now on a regular basis. Sam Belknap, a Senior Community Development Officer at The Island Institute, a Rockland-based nonprofit organization aimed at helping Maine’s island and coastal communities tackle environmental and socio-economic issues, said every coastal community in Maine is facing a unique set of challenges incited by the climate crisis Taking the initiative to see how important coastal infrastructure could be impacted puts communities in […]

01/18/2022 AUGUSTA – Secretary of State Shenna Bellows testified in favor of a bill to advance an electronic lien and title system at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles during a public hearing in the Legislature’s Transportation Committee on Thursday. The bill, L.D. 1843, https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280082219 “An Act To Allow the Secretary of State To Use an Electronic Lien Titling Program for the Purposes of the Maine Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title and Antitheft Act” was introduced by Rep. Mike Perkins, R-Oakland. “When I started as Secretary of State, we had a titles backlog of 78,000. This meant people were waiting weeks for titles, and it was reportedly having a negative impact on dealer sales,” said Secretary Bellows. “We made a number of changes at BMV […]