The energy giant hoped to renew or amend the licenses of four Kennebec River dams, but plans to sell them to The Nature Conservancy in the next year and extensive ecological conditions in a draft permit approval led Brookfield to withdraw.
Ethan Horton
Staff Writer
Ethan covers local politics and the environment for the Kennebec Journal, and he runs the weekly Kennebec Beat newsletter. He joined the KJ in 2024 shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in journalism and political science and was an editor for The Daily Tar Heel. For better or worse, Ethan always wanted to live in Maine.
Posted inElections, Local & State, News
Meet the candidates running for Oakland Town Council
A longtime councilor and three newer candidates are running for two three-year terms on the council.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Some Vassalboro residents are scrambling as sewer district teeters on default
It’s unclear if the Vassalboro Sanitary District will be able to meet its future financial obligations — putting the homes in the district in danger of seizure while residents struggle to pay their bills.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Here’s the latest on the Kennebec River dams sale announced last week
Impacts on the Somerset Mill, the Skowhegan River Park, flooding and licensing are becoming clearer a week after The Nature Conservancy announced the purchase from Brookfield Renewable Energy.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Hallowell group gets grant for traffic calming at intersection
The Strong Towns Hallowell group hopes to slow cars down near the intersection of Central and Hillcrest streets, where more than 70% of drivers exceed the posted speed limit.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
5 takeaways on the Kennebec River dam sale
While all the impacts of the sale of Brookfield Renewable Energy’s hydroelectric dams to The Nature Conservancy aren’t yet known, here’s what we know so far.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
4 Kennebec River dams to be sold to Nature Conservancy
Brookfield Renewable Energy and The Nature Conservancy agreed to a deal that’s expected to eventually remove the dams.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Winslow hires town manager, forgoing formal search, public input
Marc Amaral — who has no prior municipal government experience and was the only candidate considered for the position — was hired Wednesday in a heated special Town Council meeting.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Rural Maine towns struggle to find code officers. A new regional post could help
The new position, serving communities in Somerset County, could pave the way for more efficient and consistent building code enforcement in rural towns that can’t afford — or find — qualified candidates.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Anson, Madison residents facing nearly 50% increase in water rates
Anson & Madison Water District customers plan to appeal the rate increase to the Maine Public Utility Commission, but their likelihood of success is low.