Alliance for Sears Island

CITIZEN GROUPS OPPOSE A WIND PORT AT SEARS ISLAND AND THE DEREGULATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BUILD, (SEE LD #2266)*

Maine Earth First and Alliance For Sears Island Event at the State House

Event: Augusta, State House, 3^rd Floor, 9:30am

Citizens opposing the development of the wind port at Sears Island feel that the best option for the port is Mack Point. Citizens opposing LD#2266, to grant the State a permit to desecrate the sand dune system to accommodate this decision, will gather in Augusta to express that opposition in the form of a citizen lobby. Advantages and disadvantages were discussed at a gathering in Belfast on March 24, 2024. The Alliance for Sears Island notes that they support a wind port and recognizes that the development of the wind facility is in keeping with Maine’s Climate Action goals, but the development of this facility on Sears Island greatly impacts the natural coastal environment and historic significance of the Island. Mack Point, however, furthers Maine’s goals, and is a considerably better choice given the infrastructure currently exists, consolidates industry in one location, makes it eligible for federal funding and is consistent with offshore wind legislation. The deregulation of sand dune protection is not necessary. Sears Island as undeveloped, still supports several Maine Climate Council objectives; including, “protecting natural and working lands from development.” Removing vegetation from more than 75 acres impacts the effects of carbon sequestering, disrupts historical and existing wetlands, creates irreparable ecological damage and eliminates current upland and associated marine environmental benefits.  States, Stephen Miller, “To get this decision right means fully embracing the indisputable fact that humans are part of nature. Destroying a significant part of Sears Island, when a viable and arguably better alternative exists, flies in the face of a climate-change-informed decision.”

With construction costs relatively equitable at both sites, citizens are confused about the choice of the Governor’s office to develop the wind facility in an area that will see irreparable harm and hope to share with legislators the necessity to reverse course.

Quote: (Stephen Miller, PPH)  “Building the proposed offshore wind manufacturing facility at Mack Point represents the least environmentally damaging alternative, favors repurposing outdated and unused industrial energy sites, avoids damaging undeveloped and ecologically significant locations, limits or eliminates impacts on wildlife and fisheries and complies with the 2007 Sears Island consensus agreement. In support of the state’s fight against climate change and what is best for the economy of

Penobscot Bay…The state of Maine’s choice of Sears Island, the largest undisturbed on the Maine coast, is not only a bad choice but also a broken promise.”*SUMMARY LD #2266 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to grant a permit under the Natural Resources Protection Act for an offshore wind terminal located in a coastal sand dune system notwithstanding any provision of law regarding activities in coastal sand dune systems to the contrary as long as all other applicable permitting and 21 licensing criteria are met.