Maine

New legislation would make Maine’s polluters pay | Opinion

Published

2 months ago

January 20, 2026

New legislation would make Maine’s polluters pay | Opinion

Sue Inches is an author, educator and environmental advocate from North Yarmouth.
She writes a regular blog on the environment at susanbinches.substack.com.

Fossil fuel companies are spewing billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the air every year. These gases rise and act like a blanket in the atmosphere, reflecting heat back toward the Earth, where it’s absorbed by the ocean. This is why the Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest warming bodies of water on the planet.

Our rising ocean temperatures are the root cause of more frequent and more severe storms. And these storms are costly. Flooding, high winds and falling trees have cost Maine electric ratepayers over $200 million in each of the past four years. We see these costs in our rising electric bills.

As storms and costs continue to increase, it’s time to hold fossil fuel companies accountable. Maine electric ratepayers should not pay for climate damage they did not cause. Nor should they pay for local infrastructure to protect downtowns, roads, bridges and sewage treatment plants from flooding.

This is the rationale behind “polluter pays” legislation, an important bill before the Legislature this month.

Introduced by state Sen. Stacy Brenner, the “Polluter Pays” bill (LD 1870) would charge fossil fuel companies a fee for climate damage they’ve caused in Maine. The funds would be deposited into a state “climate superfund” and used to pay for storm repair and strengthening local infrastructure.

You may be wondering how polluters will be assessed a pollution fee. Based on decades of research and using advanced computing, it’s now possible to accurately determine the cost attributed to each polluter. Large fossil fuel companies would be charged a fee, based on a formula. The formulas are now in place.

Establishing a state “climate superfund” is a bold move. But there’s legal precedent for it. Vermont and New York passed similar legislation in 2024. Ten other states, including Maine, are proposing similar legislation. This legislation is modeled on the national superfund law (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or CERCLA), which passed in 1980.

The national superfund law has been effective. Since it was enacted, 459 sites have been fully cleaned up, with many more in progress. But the national superfund law is limited to cleaning up land and water pollution. There is no law to clean up damage caused by atmospheric pollution. States are now stepping up to address this gap.

Maine’s LD 1870 is modeled on the Vermont climate superfund law. The bill calls for climate damage fees to be assessed retroactively — on emissions from 1994-2024. By making the damage assessment retroactive, the bill avoids the argument that states are regulating emissions, which are outside of state jurisdiction. Because it is retroactive, and because it addresses climate damage and not emissions, many legal experts believe LD 1870 will stand up to legal challenges.

Opponents have not been complacent, however. Lawsuits against Vermont and New
York have been filed by the American Petroleum Institute, a coalition of 22 attorneys general from red states, and now the Trump administration through the Department of Justice. The lawsuits claim that states are regulating emissions, and that this violates interstate commerce laws and the Clean Air Act.

State climate superfund laws and the fight to establish them represent an important paradigm shift. For too long fossil fuel companies have been allowed to externalize the costs of pollution. States and local communities (meaning you and me as taxpayers) end up paying the bill, while oil companies harvest massive profits. These new laws are a first step toward making polluters accountable for pollution they cause.

Once again, Maine is taking the lead on an important issue. Please email or call your state senator and representative and urge them to support LD 1870. Better yet, come to Augusta and stand with people who support this legislation. A demonstration at the Statehouse is scheduled for Jan. 27 from 8-11 a.m.

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Maine

Maine Maple Sunday Weekend draws visitors to 100-plus sugarhouses statewide

Published

5 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Maine Maple Sunday Weekend draws visitors to 100-plus sugarhouses statewide

The smell of sap and the taste of fresh syrup drew crowds to sugarhouses across Maine as the state celebrated the 43rd annual Maine Maple Sunday Weekend.

More than 100 sugarhouses statewide took part in this year’s event. At Balsam Ridge Christmas Tree Farm in Raymond, visitors got a firsthand look at how Maine sap is turned into maple syrup.

“So far we’ve had a great time, we have enjoyed all the maple treats,” said Doug Noe, a Portland resident.

Balsam Ridge Farm owner Dewey Lloy walked visitors through the process, explaining how sap moves through the evaporator. “Most of the evaporation is going to occur here in the back pan which is the evaporator pan and its going to come to the front pans which are syrup pans and now its becoming maple syrup at this point,” Lloy said.

Lloy said the farm plans to produce more than 300 gallons of syrup this year and expects more than a thousand visitors this weekend.

“It’s always nice to see the young and old and everybody that is just excited to get out and sample soon syrups and get stocked up on some syrup,” Lloy said.

Visitors sampled maple treats while listening to live music and exploring the Christmas tree farm.

Maine Maple Sunday weekend

“They always have great music and food and there’s always nice people to come see,” said Sam Menzel, an Oxford resident.

According to the Maine Maple Producers Association, Maine produces more than 575,000 gallons of maple syrup each year from more than 2 million maple tree taps across the state. As the state’s official sweetener, maple syrup remains a tradition that brings people back year after year.

“Its grown so much in the last years and its amazing to see how well their doing and i love to come support,” Menzel said.

Maine Maple Sunday festivities will continue across the state tomorrow.

For more information click here

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Maine

Maine Food & Dining News: Waldoboro, Bowdoinham, Bangor, Lincolnville, Damariscotta, Veazie, Deer Isle, Camden, Shapleigh, Sanford, Upton, Freeport, Scarborough – Portland Food Map

Published

17 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Maine Food & Dining News: Waldoboro, Bowdoinham, Bangor, Lincolnville, Damariscotta, Veazie, Deer Isle, Camden, Shapleigh, Sanford, Upton, Freeport, Scarborough – Portland Food Map

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

Day Boat Cafe (website, facebook, instagram) in Waldoboro (above left) had their grand opening on Wednesday. Located at 17 Friendship Road in the town center, Day Boat is the creation of Anna Hymanson and Kelsey Woodworth. Their menu includes options like a pork with broccolini sandwich, panzanella salad and clam chowder. They also have prepared foods to go. The space features a 13-seat lunch counter, two window booths, and a large community table in an open kitchen concept. Outdoor seating will also be available as the weather warms. Day Boat will be open Wednesday through Friday, 10 am – 6 pm, and Saturday/Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.
Chef Nate Fenn is joining with Logan and Ashleigh Feeney in their relaunch of the Bowdoinham Country Store (above right). The Feeney bought the store last year and have been renovating the building. They’re hoping to launch BCS in May addressing the needs of the community with a neighborhood market and serving as a gathering space with a menu of snacks, pizza, sandwiches and prepared food to go. Later in the summer they hope to expand the seating area and launch a restaurant that will be open for dinner Thursday through Saturday. Fenn is currently the chef at Table Bar in Gardiner. He began his career at Flatlanders Pub in Greenville and has worked at Spring Creek BBQ in Monson and elsewhere in the state. The store is located at 54 River Road near the town center.
The Waldoboro Inn (instagram) has announced their summer plans and kicked of a novel crowdfunding campaign to help in the build out of their kitchen and expansion of their bar program. Starting on May 30th, Finocchi (instagram) will be operating Trattoria Finocchi at the inn on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays throughout the summer. The Finocchi project “focuses on the story & magic of food as they queer Italian and Italian-American traditions.” They plan to grow some produce at the Inn as well as source ingredients from Landsmith Farm & Commons. You can buy tickets for the crowdfunding campaign/raffle on the TWI website. Ticket prices are aligned with prize packages, and in a unique twist even losing ticket win some type of prize. For example the winner at the $50 level gets a dinner for two, and the remaining ticket holders get a free drink at the inn’s wine bar.
The Bangor Daily News has published an article about Rasa, an Indian restaurant being launched in Bangor by Sai Guntaka from Taj and his uncle Obul Reddy. The restaurant is scheduled to open March 29th.
Cellardoor Winery took home an award from the International Wine Competition for their 2024 Late Harvest Frontenac Blanc.
Salt + Pepper Social in Newcastle is holding 3-course plant-based dinner on May 2nd.
A new pizza food truck called Colonel’s Canteen (facebook) is under development. They plan to operate at the Korean Dad space in Veazie and at events in the Bangor/Brewer area.
The Pilgrim’s Inn on Deer Isle has rebranded as The Ark. The restaurant at the inn was on the New York Times “50 best places in America right now” restaurant list in 2025.
The Crooked Spoon is holding a pop-up dinner at The Norumbega in Camden on March 28th.
Meet York County has published a field report from Bob’s Ugly Bagels in Shapleigh., and Biddo Foodies has published a field report from Fern Leaf Bakery in Saco.
The Sanford Springvale News has published a profile of Bob Rizk, the chef and owner of The Rialto in Sanford.
The Bethel Citizen reports that the Upton Village Store is under new ownership. “They will sell groceries, prepared food and Maine souvenirs year-round. The store will also offer live bait, small camping supplies and check stations for wild game and furs.”
The Press Herald reports that Maine Beer Company in Freeport is planning an 11,000 sq ft expansion that will enable them to double their production capacity to 100,000 barrels a year.
As reported last Sunday, Vince Maniaci and Jill Dutton have announced they’ll be closing their Scarborough market and cheese shop, The Cheese Iron

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

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Maine

Washington County student wins Maine State Spelling Bee

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Washington County student wins Maine State Spelling Bee

Tristan Singh spells the word stratosphere correctly to win the Maine State Spelling Bee at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Saturday. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)

BRUNSWICK — A eighth grade student from Washington County returned for a second crack at the Maine State Spelling Bee Saturday and booked a ticket to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. He’s also headed somewhere else special — his school’s spring dance.

“It feels really awesome, especially since I made the biggest bet on winning,” winner Tristan Singh said following the bee. “There’s a spring dance coming up at my school next week, and I said I would only (go) if I won.”

Singh, a student at Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias, beat out 13 other spellers from all over the state at Bowdoin College and took the final prize with the word “stratosphere.” Each student had won bees at the school and county level to win a spot at the state competition.

The bee, which was presented by the Maine Trust for Local News, went on for 18 rounds. It came down to Singh and the student representing Androscoggin County, Turner Elementary School sixth grader Grace Morris.

Spectators were biting their nails as Morris and Singh went back and forth spelling words for six rounds.

Benjamin Ho, a seventh grader at Gorham Middle School, contemplates the spelling of a word during the Maine State Spelling Bee at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Saturday. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)

At round 14, Singh misspelled “cognizant,” giving Morris the chance to win. Then, Morris misspelled “millennial” — sending the final two into more rounds until a misspelling of “philosophize” ultimately took Morris out of contention.

The heated competition was all in good fun as spellers high-fived each other on stage and celebrated each others’ wins.

“We ended up chatting a lot, (and) cheering each other on,” said sixth grader Harmony Hoyt, the speller from Aroostook County.

And families in the audience were waiting with congratulatory hugs no matter their students’ place in the standings.

Judges Lily Jordan, left and Glenn Jordan listen as Mason Booker, a fifth grader at SeDoMoCha Middle School in Dover-Foxcroft, spells a word during the Maine State Spelling Bee at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Saturday. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)

“(We’re) so proud of him. He’s worked really hard; he’s done a lot of hours of studying,” said Elizabeth Singh, Tristan’s mom.

Three members of a spelling bee family and the president of Thomas College made up the judging team for the state bee. For each word, students could ask the judges for its definition, origin, part of speech and to use it in a sentence.

Lily Jordan, of San Francisco, returned to her home state to judge this year’s bee after winning it twice as a middle schooler. Her dad, Glenn Jordan, a retired Press Herald sports writer, and her mom, Nancy Jordan, the lead content developer at National Geographic Learning, were also at the judges’ table. Meanwhile, their dog, Webster — like the dictionary — took a nap under the table.

“It almost feels like being a kid again, and feeling the nervousness of the moment, but it’s a lot of fun,” Lily Jordan said.

Jeannine Uzzi, the president of Thomas College, served as the word pronouncer Saturday, a role she’s been coming back to for more than 15 years.

Olivia Bart, a seventh grader at Hermon Middle School, spells a word during the Maine State Spelling Bee at Bowdoin College in Brunswick Saturday. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)

“It’s a great way to reinforce academics in the state,” Uzzi said.

A bee afficionado, Singh plans on competing in the Maine State Civics Bee at Colby College in June — that is, after he appears at the nation’s largest spelling competition.

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