The Sand Dune Bill (“An Act Regarding Offshore Wind Terminals Located in Coastal Sand Dune Systems” LD2266 ) will come up for vote in the Maine House on April Fools Day 2024!
That, according to the Maine House Advance Journal and Calendar for Monday, April 1, 2024, which we received Friday, March 29, though we do not have a time for that vote.
A key provision of the bill says, in relevant part, “The Department of Environmental Protection is authorized to grant a permit… for construction of an offshore wind terminal on Sears Island to be located on or that will otherwise impact the Sears Island jetty dune.”
You can still contact representatives. You may also want to join others on the 3rd floor of the State House Monday morning at 9:30.
We do not know when the Maine Senate will consider this bill.
Here are legislators that need to hear from us, preferably from members of their districts:
Representative Vicki Doudera – (207) 542-1990 Victoria.Doudera@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Camden and Rockport (District #41)
Representative Sophie Warren – (207) 450-0765. Sophie.Warren@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Scarborough (Part) (District #124)
Representative Allison Hepler – (207) 319-4396 Allison.Hepler@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Arrowsic/ Georgetown/ Phippsburg/ West Bath/ Woolwich (District #49)
Representative Anne Perry – Anne.Perry@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Baileyville, Baring Plantation, Calais, Eastport, Grand Lake Stream Plantation, Passamaquoddy Indian Township, Meddybemps, Perry, Pleasant Point Voting District, Robbinston (District #9)
Representative Ron Russell – (207) 735-4450 Ronald.Russell@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Orland/ Penobscot/ Verona Island/ Bucksport (District #17)
Representative David Sinclair – (207) 807-1610 David.Sinclair@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Bath (District #50)
Representative Ann Matlack – (207) 594-4831 Ann.Matlack@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Cushing, Owls Head, St. George, South Thomaston and Thomaston (District #43)
Representative Tavis Hasenfus – (207) 446-0016 Tavis.Hasenfus@legislature.maine.gov
Representing – Readfield and Winthrop (District #57)
Representative Laurie Osher – Laurie.Osher@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Orono (part) (District #25)
Representative Poppy Arford – Brunswick, ME 04011 Poppy.Arford@legislature.maine.gov
Representing – Brunswick (part) (District #101)
Representative Maggie O’Neil – (207) 590-1679 Margaret.ONeil@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Saco (part). (District #129)
Representative Lori Gramlich – Lori.Gramlich@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Old Orchard Beach (District #131)
Representative Lydia Crafts – Lydia.Crafts@legislature.maine.gov
Representing – Bristol/ Damariscotta/ Monhegan Plantation/ Newcastle/ Nobleboro (Part) (District #46)
Representative Becky Jauch – (207) 522-7438 Rebecca.Jauch@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Topsham (part) (District #51)
Representative Valli Geiger –
(207) 956-1565 Valli.Geiger@legislature.maine.gov
Representing: Criehaven Township, Matinicus Isle Plantation, Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven, Owls Head (Part), Rockland (District #42)
You can find your rep’s name and phone number here:
https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/ListAlphaTown
Talking points fromthe Sears Island working group lead by Chris Buchanan include:
VOTE NO ON LD2266
SEARS ISLAND is NOT the ONLY OPTION for OFFSHORE WIND
1) There has been no environmental impact study for Sears Island, and nopublicly available environmental assessments that support development of theIsland. However multiple assessments areavailable that discourage port development of any kind on the Island.
2) Sears Island has been deemed tohave significant ecological value, invaluable capacity for future carbonsequestration, as well as many rare species, which are all necessary for futureclimate resilience. [The Resilient Land Mapping Tool, The Nature Conservancy,TNC Screenshots 2010, TNC Screenshots 2050]
3) Mack Point is the fastestoption to permit and construct a wind port in Penobscot Bay that meets the100-acre size requirement. Environmentalpermits will be granted without delay as the site is industrialized withlimited ecological value. If expansionis required over time, collaboration may occur with the old mill site inBucksport for smaller components, economically uplifting the entire region.
4) The MDOT has not considered themost recent Sprague Energy site use proposal, but it is a further improvementof the Moffatt and Nichols Report of 2023.
5) Construction costs at MackPoint are equivalent, or less than Sears Island ($400 to $500 million). [Moffatt and Nichols Report 2023]. It is NOTTRUE that Sears Island will be cheaper to develop because the State owns theland. The State is not factoring incosts that will be associated with development or operation. For example, causeway expansion andmitigation for wetland loss.
6) Dredging needed at Mack Pointis minimal compared to Sears Island, with less potential sedimentcontamination. [Moffatt and Nichols Report 2023], [2021 MaineDOT OSW portInfrastructure Feasibility Study – Concept Design Report 11-17-2021]
7) Developing Mack Point hasstrong support from the regional community.
8) Concerns about safety forworkers on Mack Point due to wind direction were addressed in the updated June2023 Moffatt and Nichol design [Moffatt and Nichols Report 2023] and theOctober 2023 Sprague Alternative
9) LD 2266, as amended, providesfunding for mitigation of the dune only if it is publicly accessible. It also agrees not to disturb a second,existing dune, that is currently publicly accessible. These are not gifts.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Buchanan
Citizens to Protect Sears Island
protectwahsumkik@proton.me
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1136530394222369
Alliance for Sears Island 