Boyle bill focuses
on energy facilities’
decommissioning
Boyle
Rep. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, introduced legislation Thursday with an amendment would require developers to establish a plan for responsibly decommissioning energy storage facilities after they have reached the end of their useful life.
The Maine Legislature House Democratic Office reported in a press release that Boyle’s LD 496 is modeled after a bill passed last year requiring all solar project developers to have a decommissioning plan in place for removing project infrastructure from the site and restoring the land, along with demonstrating the financial capacity to deliver on that plan.
LD 496 would establish a similar framework for energy storage facilities.
“Protecting our environment and natural resources is fundamental to our identity as Mainers,” Boyle said in the press release. “Our economy, our health, our happiness and our future depend on it. That’s why, as we continue to lead on renewable energy generation, we need to be thoughtful about the entire life cycle of these technologies, so that we can continue to responsibly steward this land for generations to come.”
Boyle is serving his second term in the Maine House and represents House District 109, which includes part of Gorham. He serves on the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.
GMS wins habitat grant
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership has announced its $30,000 2023 Casco Bay Community Grants awards and Gorham Middle School was among nine recipients.
The Community Grants Program supports new partnerships and innovative projects that engage communities with Casco Bay, its watershed and protecting coastal resources.
Gorham Middle School was awarded funds for its Community Habit Monitoring. Funds will support the purchase of two monitoring stations that seventh grade students will use on public trails around Gorham Middle School.
Students monitor the health of a local pond and the spread of invasive Japanese knotweed and this equipment will allow local citizens to monitor how these sites change over time.
50 years ago
The American Journal reported on March 21, 1973, that Michael David of Elkins Road told police 60 bales of hay were stolen from a barn owned by Freeman Richardson, 560 Main St. The hay was valued at $1 per bale and entry was made by kicking in a side door.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Treasury Department reported on March 16 that the U.S. public debt was $31,460,256,629,224.57.
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