Maine

Project to help Maine power lines better handle storms is almost done, CMP says

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

Project to help Maine power lines better handle storms is almost done, CMP says

MAINE (WMTW) – Central Maine Power says a major project designed to improve the reliability of its grid and hopefully better handle future storms is almost done.

The reliability of the grid has been cause for much concern by many people and CMP has come under fire about the frequency and duration of power outages, especially in recent years. It is an issue 8 Investigates has been following for years.

The Section 80 Rebuild is an $85 million project approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission in 2022.

As of this week, the project is 85% done, CMP says.

The project involves replacing wooden structures along a 115-kilovolt transmission line that is approximately 22 miles long between Windsor and Warren with stronger poles made of steel and installing new conductor wire.

Officials say the need for the upgrades was first identified in 2019 and the project addresses outmoded structure types and the potential for thermal overloading on this section under certain conditions.

“You can think of this line like a state road as opposed to an interstate,” said Adam Desrosiers, CMP’s Vice President of Electric Operations. “Just as state roads compliment interstates, getting large numbers of people where they need to go, Section 80 is a major component of not just Maine’s grid, but the transmission system throughout New England. These upgrades will make this fundamental part of our region’s grid more prepared for stronger storms and the impacts of climate change for decades to come.”

The new line is expected to go live by late summer or early fall.

Once that is done, the existing lines and wooden structures they are on will be taken down.

Source link

Maine

Most Mainers oppose AI data centers in their communities, poll finds

Published

7 hours ago

June 5, 2026

Press Room

Most Mainers oppose AI data centers in their communities, poll finds

Just one day after Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced a new state council tasked with studying the impacts of AI data centers in Maine, a new poll suggests a majority of Mainers oppose their construction.

A new poll from UMass Lowell found that 72% of Mainers are against AI data centers being built in their communities.

That includes 51% who strongly oppose the projects, while only 28% support them.

In April, Mills vetoed a bill that would have paused all large-scale AI data center projects in the state, citing a planned facility in Jay.

Since then, several Maine communities have adopted moratoriums of their own. The latest is Scarborough, which enacted its moratorium earlier this week.

Source link

Maine

Pilots aboard hydrogen balloon are attempting to cross Atlantic Ocean from Maine

Published

17 hours ago

June 4, 2026

Press Room

Pilots aboard hydrogen balloon are attempting to cross Atlantic Ocean from Maine

PRESQUE ISLE (WGME) — The first successful trans-Atlantic balloon launched from Presque Isle in 1978.

Early Thursday morning, a group of pilots took flight with the goal of crossing the Atlantic Ocean and landing in Europe.

The hydrogen balloon in the air on its way to Europe. (Courtesy: Bert Padelt)

The Atlantic Explorer 2026 is a gas balloon that uses hydrogen.

If successful, this balloon team would be the first to cross the Atlantic using hydrogen as the lifting gas. All others used helium.

“They can vent hydrogen to go down, although they try to avoid doing that. They have expendable weight in the form of sand ballast,” Atlantic Explorer 2026 Press Officer Kim Vesley said.

The hydrogen balloon in the air on its way to Europe. (Courtesy: Bert Padelt)

They can offload the weight to make the balloon go up, or keep it from coming down.

And there are three pilots inside.

“They work in shifts, and they have everything they need: food, clothing, water, a little port-a-potty type bucket,” Vesley said.

The hydrogen balloon in the air on its way to Europe. (Courtesy: Bert Padelt)

“The trajectory and the winds that they have available to them determine where they will come into Europe. It could be probably 3,100 to 3,500 miles, in that vicinity. They expect to be aloft four to six days,” Vesley said.

They have survival equipment, including a life raft, survival suit and more in case of an emergency, but they’re all optimistic.

The hydrogen balloon in the air on its way to Europe. (Courtesy: Bert Padelt)

“These are all friends with a common goal. That is to do something very special and very rare. The other thing is they may also set a couple of world records during this for the size and type of balloon they are flying,” Vesley said.

To track where the balloon is and the flight path it’s taken, you can visit their website.

Source link

Maine

Six Maine food producers win Good Food Awards

Published

1 day ago

June 4, 2026

Press Room

Six Maine food producers win Good Food Awards

Six Maine food producers were honored at the 16th annual Good Food Awards.

Awardees announced Tuesday include Allagash Brewing Company for their Allagash Lager and Kickabout Lager; Bixby Chocolate of Rockland for their Belize organic dark chocolate bar; Maine Grains of Skowhegan for their organic einkorn farro; Maine Sauce and Provisions of Newcastle for the Resurgam Spruced Up chile verde hot sauce; Tootie’s Tempeh of Biddeford for their curry-seasoned and traditional tempehs; and Turtle Rock Farm of Camden for Strawberry Chamomile Spreadable Fruit.

The total of 242 winners nationwide were selected through a blind tasting process from more than 1,200 entries.

The awards program is overseen by the Specialty Food Foundation. According to the foundation’s website, “The Good Food Awards Seal, found on winning products, assures consumers they’ve discovered something exceptionally delicious that also supports sustainability and social good.”

Earlier this year, Tern Coffee of Brunswick was named one of the seven Maine finalists in the Good Food Awards for its Familia Diaz Honey Pacamara coffee.

Tim Cebula has been a food writer and editor for 23 years. A former correspondent for The Boston Globe food section, his work has appeared in Time, Health, Food & Wine, CNN.com, and Boston magazine,…
More by Tim Cebula

Source link