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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 A P R I L 6 , 2 0 2 6 Maine chamber opposes climate superfund bill e State Chamber of Commerce is urging Mainers to voice their opposi- tion to a "climate superfund" initia- tive under review by the Legislature. e Chamber says LD 1870, "An Act to Establish a Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to Impose Penalties on Climate Polluters," spon- sored by state Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, is "costly, redun- dant and unnecessary." If passed, LD 1870 would direct the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study on the costs of emissions from greenhouse gases to the state between 1995 to 2024, according to Ashley Luszczki, government relations spe- cialist with the Chamber. Maine's caregivers contribute $5.5B in unpaid help e economic impact of unpaid family caregivers in Maine continues to rise, to the tune of $5.5 billion in services provided in 2024, according to a new AARP report. Nationwide, 59 million individuals looked after older parents, spouses, neighbors and others in 2024, contributing 49.5 billion hours of care, researchers found. ose unpaid hours are equivalent to the output of nearly 24 million workers, or 17% of the U.S. workforce. In Maine, 310,000 care- givers provided 220 million hours of unpaid care in 2024 — worth $5.5 bil- lion at $24.99 an hour. Maine lobsterman takes GPS case to Supreme Court In a case with implications for one of Maine's premier industries, a Vinalhaven-based lobsterman is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out round-the-clock GPS tracking require- ments for every federally licensed lobstering vessel. Fifth-generation lobsterman Frank ompson argues that the rule, imposed in 2023 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, amounts to warrantless surveillance that violates his Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E Maine's new paid family and medical leave program is open for applications today — for time off to be taken starting May 1. The program provides employees up to 12 weeks of benefits for major life events, including attending to a personal or family member's serious health condi- tion, the arrival of a new child, dealing with the transition of a family member's impending military deployment, or to stay safe, or help a family member stay safe after abuse or violence. Vegas company buys Maine kitchen-cleaning firm Happy Traps, a Portland business that cleans grease traps in commercial kitch- ens, has been acquired by a Las Vegas- based energy company. Barrel Energy Inc., focuses on renewable, lithium, solar and nutritional energy solutions Two South Portland hotels sell to out-of-state investors Two neighboring hotels along South Portland's Sable Oaks Drive sold within a month of each other to out- of-state hotel operators. Holiday Inn Express at 303 Sable Oaks Drive sold to an affiliate of AON Hospitality Group by Beddy Bye LLC for an undisclosed price. Portland Sheraton at Sable Oaks at 200 Sable Oaks Drive sold to Sable Oaks Hotel LLC, an affiliate of Colwen Hotels, by Lullaby LLC for an undisclosed price. UNE med school places 166 graduates in residencies e University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine held its annual Match Day last week, connecting 166 budding doctors with residency programs. irteen have been placed in Maine hospitals and a total of 69 were placed around New England. UNE's Match Day ceremony in Portland was the first at the Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences, which opened for the cur- rent school year. Of the 166 students matched, 84 students accepted residen- cies in primary care and 28 will work in emergency medicine. Kittery shipyard debuts 3D-printed submarine part Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery achieved a milestone when it welded and installed a 3D-printed copper nickel flange aboard the USS Washington (SSN 787). e event marked the first time an additive- manufactured copper-nickel flange has S T A T E W I D E S O U T H E R N ARCHITECTURE | INTERIOR DESIGN | PLANNING LISTEN. INNOVATE. DESIGN. www.GTDArchitects.com Reach out to hear about our latest work and how we can help with your next project. THE MOORING OF KENNEBUNK | KENNEBUNK, ME Construction You Can Count On pmconstruction.com ncormier@pmconstruction.com 207.282.7697 With a proven track record of managing complex developments, PMC continues to play a key role in shaping vibrant residential environments across the state. FEATURED PROJECT Latitude at South Portland — A modern apartment community featuring 250 units across four buildings.

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