As fossil fuel costs soar, energy generated from tidal power is gaining more and more attention. An energy research firm in California has produced a study touting Bay of Fundy tidal power as a viable source of electricity, and has also determined that among the best sites would be the Western Passage of Passamaquoddy Bay
Alternative Power
You can say one thing about oil at $70 per barrel and gas at $3 per gallon: this sort of market stimulates the development of alternatives. In Eastport, tidal power is again in the news; on Swan’s Island, Frenchboro and Deer Isle there’s talk of wind power; a major wind development in western Maine is
Swan’s Island Electric Coop Considers Wind Power
At the annual meeting of the Swan’s Island Electric Cooperative on July 20, the main topic of discussion was the possibility of developing wind power on Swan’s Island and Frenchboro. Ed Schawbe, a member of the cooperative’s board, explained the preliminary study to those in attendance and also fielded questions. The board’s initial study looked
Quiet Adventurers How the Isle au Haut Electric Power Company became a community force
In 1968, the year-round population of Isle au Haut had dwindled from a historic high of 300 to 17. Those who stayed through the winters relied on wood stoves, outhouses, kerosene lamps and iceboxes; they pumped their own water, and made their own electricity with sputtering, unreliable generators. Then, a man named Patrick Tully led
Frenchboro approves ferry rate change, defeats road ordinance
In a swift and nearly unanimous town meeting held June 26, Frenchboro voters approved almost every article on the town warrant in a two-hour session. In mostly uncontested races, the town elected new and returning officials to town offices. The largest expenditure for the town will be the school budget for 2006-2007, to accommodate the
Doing the Right Thing The pain of posting a polluted beach in summer
At first glance, Kennebunkport’s Goose Rocks Beach looks as perfect as a postcard. Gentle waves lap peacefully along three miles of fine silver-white sand. At one of southern Maine’s most secluded stretch of beach, the tastefully chic houses continue to rent upwards of $5,000 a week during this summer’s peak season. No amusement parks or
At Your Own Risk
There’s a downside to the Maine Healthy Beaches program: it’s strictly voluntary. Think of it this way: if the state’s clam testing program were set up the same way, we’d get safe clams from towns where the flats had been tested and declared to be safe; we might get no information at all — but
The Long View: Global Warming – Fact or Hoax?
As this year’s Maine island summer continues to unfold its timeless magic, we all interpret the pulse of daily life depending on our nature and habits. Some of us pray for the return of fish or lobsters, while others run experiments with their gear to determine what the season augurs. The torrents of rain that
Coastal development add a twist of “green”
Picture a summer cottage on a Muscongus Bay island with traditional shingled walls and six-over-six windows. Or picture a woodsy, compact and energy-efficient home near other houses, within walking distance of Tenants Harbor village, where there is post office, store, restaurant, plus a town pier and float for boat access to Penobscot Bay. Nostalgia for
“Here’s how scientists study the ocean”
Young people interested in marine science or parents who would like their 12- to 18-year-olds to get a taste of what will be in store for them if they follow this course to the college level, can get that taste at a summer camp on Mount Desert. Acadia Institute of Oceanography (AIO), at Seal Harbor,