October 26, 2026
Sea Level Rise is Happening!
Created for the Island Institute, this O’Chang Comics / Puckerbrush Animation original calls attention to the challenges of increased coastal flooding, storm surge events, and sea level rise impacts for Maine communities.
October 26, 2026
Looking Back and Moving Forward with the Maine Islands Coalition
Leaders reflect on the organization’s importance for island communities
Maine Islands Coalition leaders reflect on the organization’s importance for island communities, and where it's headed in the future.
September 28, 2026
Distant Waves: Matinicus Island
On Matinicus, an island located roughly 22 miles off of Maine's coast, unreliable access to power has made day-to-day life more difficult for generations. This documentary, produced by CIC USA, follows the story of a community-led commitment to upgrading Matinicus's energy system from a failing diesel generator to a microgrid primarily powered by solar and hybrid supercapacitor energy storage.
September 25, 2026
Word on the Wharf
The state of maine's lobster fishery, beyond the numbers
Bruce Doughty, a former commercial fisherman and Island Institute employee, shares what he's hearing from candid conversations with Maine lobstermen.
September 22, 2026
Welcoming New Island Institute Fellows
Meet the new cohort of Fellows living and working on Maine's coast
Meet the new Island Institute Fellows and catch up on the current cohort's community-driven projects.
August 24, 2026
Reading the Shoreline
Lessons from Casco Bay’s Coastal Erosion Assessments
ShoreCorps Steward Emma Polhemus worked with Island Institute staff and island communities in Casco Bay to assess shoreline erosion and offer potential paths forward.
July 29, 2026
Describe Maine's Coast in 3 Words
At a recent even on Peaks Island, we asked folks to describe Maine's coast in 3 words! We compiled some of our favorite answers to celebrate our shared connection to place.
July 24, 2026
Innovation is Just a Ferry Ride Away
Marine Electrification Across Borders
What can Maine learn from Nova Scotia about electrifying a commercial boat? Island Institute's marine electrification team traveled to Halifax to exchange ideas and bring home insights to advance the electrification of Maine’s working waterfronts.
July 22, 2026
On Kayaks, Community, and Collaboration
Reflections from the Island Institute Fellows retreat
Island Institute Fellows gathered in Stonington to celebrate successes, troubleshoot shared challenges, and recharge on the water. Emerson Wesselhoff, the Damariscotta Fellow, reflects on the theme of collaboration that framed the trip and her work in community.
June 22, 2026
A Coastal Maine Town's Investment in Energy Reliability
How ETIPP helped Brooklin take the next step towards their energy goals
Brooklin sits at the southern tip of Maine’s Blue Hill Peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides and connected to the mainland by roads that cross saltwater bridges. Much of the town’s development is concentrated along the shoreline, where increasingly frequent and severe coastal storms threaten reliable access to power.
