by Gina Hamilton
Coastal Journal staff

BATH — As of Sunday afternoon, 52 wildfires raged through Quebec's forestlands, north of the St. Lawrence River. The wind, however, was southerly, and brought the smoke to Maine and New England. The majority of fires are burning near La Tuque, about 190 miles northwest of Montreal.

SOPFEU, the forest fire protection service in Quebec, said Monday that a prolonged hot and dry spring caused the fires to begin either by spontaneous combustion in some cases, or lightning strike in others. Arson is not considered likely. Of the 52 fires, eight were burning out of control on Monday morning. Rain is in the forecast, but meteorologists say that there is no guarantee that the rain will fall where it is needed most.

by Will Gottlieb
Coastal Journal staff

SOUTH PORTLAND — The economy seems to be showing signs of recovery, and nowhere would this news be more welcome than in the real estate market here in Maine. And there has been some good news in that quarter of late: According a report released by the Maine Association of Realtors on Monday, Maine home sales are up 63% over last year.
"Sixty-two point nine-five," said Jeff Keller of the Maine Real Estate Information System (MREIS).

Sounds great! And will this good news keep coming?

"I can't say that," said Keller.

Still, good news is good news, and it's not limited to just the number of homes sold, but to a rise in the median price of homes sold.

AUGUSTA — The Maine Public Utilities Commission approved Central Maine Power's proposed $1.4 billion power grid update on Friday of last week.

From Orrington to Eliot, the utility will build a new 345,000 volt transmission line, which will double the capacity of the grid's backbone. CMP has said that the improvements are necessary to keep the power grid stable in the years to come, and to expand the grid to new sources of energy expected to come from on and offshore wind farms, as well as potential tidal projects.

CMP is hoping to get permits from the Army Corps of Engineers to begin work in June.

WISCASSET -- Chewonki Foundation held its tenth annual Sustainable Energy Conference on Saturday, May 8. Despite the cold drizzle, the event was well-attended. The day-long conference featured experts and academic leaders in the field of sustainability and renewable energy, and showcased some of the latest technologies and vendors from New England.