A temporary compromise reached by lawmakers means Maine communities are once again burying sewage sludge in the state-owned landfill at Juniper Ridge near Old Town, and don’t have to pay extra to haul the waste to New Brunswick, Canada.
Penelope Overton
Staff Writer
Penny Overton is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics and spent a fellowship year exploring the impact of climate change on the lobster fishery with the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Before moving to Maine, she has covered politics, environment, casino gambling and tribal issues in Florida, Connecticut, and Arizona. Her favorite assignments allow her to introduce readers to unusual people, cultures, or subjects. When off the clock, Penny is usually getting lost in a new book at a local coffeehouse, watching foreign crime shows or planning her family’s next adventure.
Posted inMaine, Nation / World, News, Uncategorized
U.S. auditors accuse Maine of misusing federal grants to shore up its pension fund
The practice, while not unique to Maine, exceeded ‘reasonable’ allowances as it diverted $2.6 million away from fishing, hunting and wildlife protection programs.
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Posted inMaine, Politics
Lawmakers tour Maine before negotiating next federal farm bill
Maine needs federal policy to be flexible enough to support small specialty farmers, keep food banks full and provide relief to farmers struggling with PFAS contamination, lawmakers are told at a U.S. Congress agricultural field hearing.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Fishermen question the data behind offshore wind siting process
Fishermen at a meeting with federal officials Monday trashed the maps used to show areas that are lightly fished, saying they are relying on old data.
Posted inMaine, Uncategorized
Maine pledges to install 175,000 more heat pumps by 2027
Maine met its goal to install 100,000 heat pumps two years ahead of schedule. So Gov. Janet Mills is raising the bar, hoping that general state and federal incentives will help Maine lower heating bills and meet its climate goals.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Mills signs bill expanding abortion access in Maine
The new law, signed during a ceremony at the State House Wednesday, allows abortions later in pregnancy and is one of the least restrictive state laws in the nation.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Fluorescent lightbulbs, which contain mercury, are on their way out in Maine
Starting in 2026, sales of new fluorescent bulbs will be banned – though many stores already have removed the ones that used to be in wide household use. The replacements are LEDs, which are more efficient and don’t contain mercury.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
State adopts $70 million plan to help farmers deal with PFAS contamination
The fund will dedicate $30.3 million in grants to get farmers back on their feet, $21.5 million in compensation for contaminated land, $7.3 million for medical needs and $11.2 million for scientific research.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Budget approved by Democrats won’t go into effect until fall
Upset over being shut out of negotiations, Republicans vote against the state budget. It still passes, but without their votes, the newly added $800 million can’t be spent until October.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Maine Legislature finally wraps up session, sends abortion bill to governor
Lawmakers voted out the last of the pending bills late Thursday, including a hard-fought bill to expand abortion access that Gov. Janet Mills is all but certain to sign into law soon.