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V O L . X X I I N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 6 6 Canadian tourism in Maine continues to drop For the third year in a row, Canadian tourism in Maine dropped, with 4.1 million visiting Vacationland in 2015, down from the 5.5 million in 2013. e falling number of Canadian tourists has had an eff ect on the Old Orchard Beach-based motel Richards by the Sea, where owner Lisa Gribbin told the Portland Press Herald that busi- ness is down 15% this year. "I've got some holes in my calendar this year where in the past there was none," Gribbin told the Press Herald. "It's not just me. It's up and down the coast. e Canadians are still coming, but not as many of them as in years past, not for as long and they're not spending as much once they get here." N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in Augusta announced fi ve projects along the Maine coast were awarded nearly $186,280 in Coastal Community Planning Grants. Recipients included Vinalhaven Coastal Flooding Vulnerability Study, $45,000; Bath Stormwater Management Study, $42,000; Downeast River Herring Restoration, $41,280; Gardiner Stormwater Management Study, $30,000; and Boothbay Harbor Storm Surge Resiliency Study, $28,000. Casco Bay Ferry Terminal gets Phase II funding A $2.56 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will help usher in the second phase of renovations at Portland's Casco Bay Ferry Terminal. Phase II of the Casco Bay Lines Terminal Improvements project will enhance the safety and manageability of the terminal, which is outdated and serving more than double the number of individuals it was originally designed to handle, according to the offi ces of U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins. e renovations will help streamline pas- senger, vehicular and freight move- ments and improve the vessel main- tenance areas for Casco Bay Lines' fl eet. e project was selected on a competitive basis from the Passenger Ferry Grant Program, which was announced in July 2014. "Casco Bay Lines serves approximately 1 million passengers each year and is a critical link for residents and visitors travel- ing between the Casco Bay islands and the mainland," said Collins and King in a joint statement. In May, the ferry terminal received $296K from the DOT for parking garage improvements. Largest cruise ship of the season docks in Portland A fl oating theme park with bumper cars, rock-climbing wall and an outdoor movie screen called Portland home B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E S O U T H E R N Not only do you get the convenience of valet parking at the airport for $10 a day, but we'll take care of your car needs, too. www.parknjetportland.com 747-5650 Drive 100 yards past baggage claim. Look for our green sign. Open 4:30AM - 1AM or later. per day $10 park perks OiL chANge • cAr wAsh • DetAiLiNg with Get engaged, inspired and connected with a print + digital subscription to Mainebiz. You'll receive bi-weekly issues, special publications and full online access! REAL ESTATE / REAL ESTATE / REAL ESTATE / CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 » Kathy Shafer Kathy Shafer Kathy Shafer, senior director of worldwide facilities , senior director of worldwide facilities , senior director of worldwide facilities at at at IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook, works on her in Westbrook, works on her in Westbrook, works on her laptop at the Synergy Center, which offers unique laptop at the Synergy Center, which offers unique laptop at the Synergy Center, which offers unique spaces where employees can work. spaces where employees can work. spaces where employees can work. into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light $2.00 $2.00 $2.00 July 25, 2016 July 25, 2016 July 25, 2016 VO L . 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Or call: 845.267.3008 Subscribe online: mainebiz.biz/knowmainebiz F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 » M O R E I N S I D E M O R E I N S I D E M O R E I N S I D E S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 » S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light Maine companies reinterpret office space Maine companies reinterpret office space Maine companies reinterpret office space B y L a u r i e S c h r e i B y L a u r i e S c h r e i B y L a u r i e S c h r e i B e r e r e r Utility partners pull contracts for natural gas pipeline expansion The $3 billion Access Northeast natural gas pipeline expansion, touted by its developers as a project that would lower New England's electricity costs by ensuring a more reliable supply of natural gas, has lost two key utility partners. The decision creates additional uncertainty over a plan conditionally approved by Maine's Public Utilities Commission last month. Under that plan, Maine electricity customers would subsidize expansion of New England's natural gas pipeline capacity, provided that other states take similar action. As reported by Wall Street Journal in late August, National Grid PLC and Eversource Energy withdrew petitions they had fi led with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities for 20-year agreements to acquire gas from Spectra Energy Corp., which is pursuing an expansion of the Algonquin Gas Transmission system that would fi ll "last mile" gaps in the existing pipeline system. Those withdrawals come on the heels of the late August decision by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts that blocked a plan for electricity ratepayers in Massachusetts to pay a portion of the cost of expanding natural gas capacity in New England. Spectra Energy, however, told the WSJ the expansion project is moving for- ward, that National Grid and Eversource remain onboard as co-developers and that it is seeking other customers in Massachusetts and New England to pay for the expanded pipeline. "We are confi dent that, ultimately, the interests of New England's consumers will prevail with [a] desperately needed gas supply made available by Access Northeast," Spectra said in a statement to the WSJ. The actions taken by National Grid and Eversource Energy create additional uncertainty for a plan unanimously approved July 19 by the Maine PUC that would have state electricity customers pay up to $75 million annually to expand natural gas pipeline capacity in New England as a way of lowering Maine's elec- tricity costs. Maine's PUC stipulated that Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire adopt similar plans before that subsidy could begin. The PUC still needs to issue a fi nal order in that case. Maine PUC commissioners endorsed the Access Northeast project in the commission's July 19 meeting, but left the door open to an alternative proposal favored by Commissioner Carlisle McLean. McLean's proposal would provide ratepayer support for the much smaller Portland Natural Gas Transmission System's Continent to Coast expansion project connecting Atlantic Canada natural gas supplies with the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline in Westbrook. — J a m e s M c C a r t h y