Both in Maine and nationwide, there has been a longtime debate over whether or not Daylight Saving Time is helpful or necessary. Two bills were introduced during the last session to eliminate the practice of losing an hour of daylight each year; they failed to pass, but the talk of the need for change continues. We’ll discuss the reasons for and against Daylight Saving Time with historians, sleep experts, business owners, farmers, lawmakers and more.
Guests
Libby Bischof, professor of history, University of Southern Maine; executive director, Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education
Rep. Christopher Kessler, House District 32 (South Portland/Cape Elizabeth), energy auditor, introduced legislation last session to eliminate daylight saving time in Maine
Tim Clark (by phone), contributing editor, The Old Farmer's Almanac, Dublin, New Hampshire
Robyn Ostrander (by phone), child & adolescent psychiatry specialist, Maine Health
Megan Diver (by phone), advocacy team, Maine State Chamber of Commerce
Julie Ann Smith (by phone), executive director, Maine Farm Bureau
Resources
- 2 Maine Bills Would Rid State Of Daylight Saving Time
- New England States Could Band Together to Join Atlantic Time, Stop Changing Clocks
- Daylight Saving Time Is Ending This Weekend. These States Want To Make DST Permanent
- Daylight Saving Time 2019: The Odd History Of Changing Our Clocks
- The Reason Some States Don't Observe Daylight Saving Time
- Daylight Saving Time “Fall Back” Doesn’t Equal Sleep Gain
- Set Your Clock for Good Sleep
- Daylight Saving Time Seems To Affect TV Ratings
- Daylight Saving Is The Worst Thing That Happens To Television
- Opinion: The Costs Of The Annual Switch To Daylight Saving Time Are Becoming Increasingly Evident
- Watching The Ball Drop — The Nautical Origins Of A New Year’s Tradition
- Explained: The Daylight Saving Time Donut in Arizona