A friend from Colorado pointed out this story from the Rocky Mountain News about the growing use of conservation easements. While Mainers sometimes complain about public access and the price of conservation here, we look “pretty dang progressive” from the Rockies, he says. (That’s how they talk out west.)

We already knew that Maine leads the nation in acres conserved under no-development easements. But, as the News points out, we’re also well ahead of other states in providing public access to those lands, we spend about 80 percent less in public funding than Colorado does and we have better oversight to make sure we get what we pay for.

Yee-ha.

It was a big week for Maine’s air and water, and for Edmund Muskie.

The late governor, senator and statesman from Rumford was the driving force behind the federal Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act in the early 1970s. And nearly 40 years later, both laws are still cleaning up his home state’s rivers, lakes, coastal waters and air.

On Monday, the Portland City Council voted to spend $61 million to speed up efforts to keep millions of gallons of untreated sewage from spilling into Casco Bay every time it rains.

It will mean a 21 percent increase in sewer rates. It also will mean cleaner water for swimmers and sea life, and relief for clam flats that have been contaminated since Muskie was elected governor in 1954.

Muskie knew all about the damage from sewage along the coast.

The Church of England has a suggestion for Christians who will soon be giving up something near and dear to celebrate lent – a carbon fast.

The season of preparation for Easter, a reminder of Christ’s 40-day fast in the desert, has become a time for Christians to give up a personal vice such as chocolate or alcohol.

Bishops in the Church of England are not really suggesting a cold-turkey carbon strike, so much as a series of small sacrifices, starting with removing a light bulb for 40 days. Here is the Guardian’s version of the story.

Not only is our use of carbon – the fossil fuels that power our lights, heat our homes and run our vehicles –  a powerful habit, but a little carbon avoidance would clearly be healthy for the planet. And because of the threats that global warming poses to the earth’s poorest people, it’s a moral imperative for Christians, according to the Bishops.

It’s an interesting idea on a lot of levels. I’d like to know what you think about the idea, and if there are people around here planning to give up some carbon for lent.

The fate of the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag continues to generate a lot of interest and correspondence. It's one of those environmental dilemmas everyone can get their fingers around.

Here’s a story in Saturday’s New York Times about the national plastic bag tax (33 cents on each one) in Ireland and how it has helped make the bags about as socially acceptable there as fur coats and failing to clean up after dogs. Other countries and cities have simply banned the bags.

Ireland’s solution is similar to one that had been proposed by a Maine lawmaker. That proposal stalled in Maine, and has now taken a back seat to voluntary efforts to promote reusable bags. It seems a long shot that Maine would follow Ireland’s lead with a tax – no other U.S. state or city has done it – but it may be a matter of time before the idea crosses the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, Suzette Bergeron of Scarborough continues to move ahead with her solution - Bulletin Bags. The simple idea is to sell advertising space on reusable bags so she can make them, print them and distribute them for free. Check out her new Web site here and we’ll keep you posted on her progress.

Bill Drinkwater spends a lot of time tinkering in the basement with his latest creation, a three-wheeled car that may soon carry him to town at 40 mph.

But this is not your typical 62-year-old tinkerer, and his electric-powered car is more than a retirement hobby.

Drinkwater, who lives in Belmont, is one of a loose network of Mainers who see hard times ahead and are using their Yankee ingenuity to prepare. The way we travel will change dramatically, he says, as global warming and tightening oil supplies make our current way of life too expensive.

“Things seem to be collapsing pretty quickly,” he said.