News from Maine’s Island and Coastal Communities volume 37, no. 9 n november 2023 n free circulation: 50,000
publishedby byisland islandinstitute institute nn workingwaterfront workingwaterfront.com .com published
Power play: to Pine Tree or not
ISLAND WELCOME —
State takeover of utilities debated BY TOM GROENING
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here wasn’t much the proponents and opponents agreed on during a Sept. 19 discussion in Augusta of the referendum that would have the state purchase Central Maine Power and Versant. Proponents argued that with a nonprofit, stateowned or consumer-owned utility—Pine Tree Power—profits that otherwise leave the state would be kept in Maine, thereby reducing rates. They also asserted that Mainers would be able to chart a course toward cleaner electric generation if they were able to elect representatives to run the utility. Opponents said the purchase would be costly, take as long as ten years to come to fruition as the parties argued over compensation for the privately owned companies, bring uncertainty, and could very well result in higher rates. The forum was hosted by E2 Tech, also known as Environmental and Energy Technology of Maine. That group is not taking a position on the Question 3 referendum measure. Proponents on the panel included Rep. Seth Berry, a former Democratic legislator from Bowdoinham
Patty Zimmerman of Peaks Island transports three children from the Mabuie family of Mozambique. Several Peaks Island families have taken young people who are recent immigrants from African countries, now living in Portland, into their homes for short- and long-term visits. See Kelli Park’s story and more photos on pages 2-3.
who sponsored the bill that ultimately led to the referendum question, and Lucy Hochshartner, also a Democrat and deputy campaign manager for the Pine Tree Power initiative. Opposing the question were Tina Riley, former Democratic legislator who initially supported the creation of a publicly owned utility, and Jim Cohen, a
lawyer and former Portland mayor and city councilor. The agreed upon facts of the proposal, according to moderator Jeff Thaler, are that if passed, the referendum would have the state purchase the two electric utilities using bond funding; the new privately owned nonprofit Pine Tree Power would be governed by a continued on page 7
Fortifying Portland Harbor’s sentinel Fort Preble is stabilized after violent winter storm BY CLARKE CANFIELD
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orkers have moved threeton granite blocks and taken measures to mitigate erosion and improve drainage in an effort to stabilize Fort Preble, a historic
fortress near the entrance to Portland Harbor that has endured for more than 200 years. Dating back to 1808 and active in all major wars from the War of 1812 through World War II, Fort Preble today serves as a living reminder of Maine’s
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role in U.S. naval history and the abun- fort’s 19 casemates because they were dance of historic forts that pepper the unsafe. They have been labeled and set coast. But it has deteriorated in recent off to the side, ready to be reinstalled years from the weather and the sea, and it in the future when more funding suffered substantial damage in a violent becomes available. storm that pummeled the coast last The job isn’t large, but it has its December, dislodging complexities. and toppling over Bourassa and his The fort was built many of the fort’s crew have laid granite blocks. concrete to tempoto prevent cargo The fort is now rarily take the place part of the Southern of granite blocks ships from leaving Maine Community that were washed port and later to College campus out in the December in South Portland, storm, and to replace defend the harbor which is spending washed-out concrete from enemy attacks… about $200,000 in one location. They on the stabilizahave installed undertion project. Great Falls Construction ground piping and used riprap to ease of Gorham began the work in early erosion and help with drainage. They September and was expected to finish also reinforced some of the granite by mid-October. blocks by covering them with polyAaron Bourassa, the project ester fabric, over which they applied manager for Great Falls, said six granite concrete; engineers designed it like this blocks—each weighing roughly 6,000 so when the concrete is removed in pounds—were removed from atop the continued on page 6