We are a group of local volunteers who love and respect this island, and are dedicated to protecting it.
What is the threat?
Governor Mills announced that Sears Island is the preferred site for a massive wind turbine manufacturing, assembly and shipping port. We believe that this facility should be built across the water at Mack Point if it is to be built in Penobscot Bay.
What can we do?
Lots of things!
Our government works for us, and history has shown that small groups of determined citizens can protect this beautiful island from every attempt to industrialize it, going back decades.
Attend protests and events (or help us organize one)!
Wear light blue to show solidarity with the island.
Put out at yard sign (see below)!
Spread the word!
Get creative and let us know your ideas!
More ideas from Alliance for Sears Island:
Write Letters to the Editor: 250 words max or make it an Op-Ed
Bangor Daily News: letters@bangordailynews.com
Portland Press Herald: letterstotheeditor@pressherald.com
Republican Journal: editor@villagesoup.com
Free Press: copyedit@freepressonline.com
Ellsworth American: news@ellsworthamerican.com
Contact Maine State Government Officials:
Email to Offshore Wind Project Leadership: offshorewind@maine.gov
Comment to MaineDOT: Contact MDOT
Comment to Governor Mills:
Share your opinion with Governor MillsContact Your Legislators: Maine House of Representatives
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Sierra Club Hosts a Community Conversation: Siting an Offshore Wind Port in Maine
Thu, Sep 12, 2024; 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Join Jim Theriault, VP of Materials Handling, for Sprague Energy who will be presenting their proposal for an offshore wind port on Mack Point in Searsport. Offshore wind (OSW) is an exciting prospect for Maine's energy future and Sierra Club Maine is supportive of a project being sited in the Gulf of Maine and port selection is a critical part of the process and needs to be considered carefully. This conversation will bring insights into the issue. This 'Community Conversation" will be held over Zoom.
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Searsport Board of Selectpersons Meeting
Tuesday, Sept 17, 6pm
Union Hall, SearsportPlease come and speak during the open comment period, and send emails to the town manager (below) with the following requests:
A. Please rescind your Letter of Support for the federal grant applications, now that we know that the grant applications are targeting Sears Island for development. This is urgent, since the Feds are currently analyzing the grant applications. Further, Matt Burns made it clear that we won't see the Alternatives Analysis until permits are submitted for development, indicating the state's decision to preferentially pursue Sears Island despite the conclusions in the analysis.
B. Please contact the DEP about the acid pollution at GAC, and retest the area immediately to see if the remedy was successful.
C. Please schedule another meeting with the Department of Transportation where the public will be able to ask questions directly at the meeting.
Wear light blue and bring signs to hold outside before the event, if you would like!
Searsport Town Manager: <searsportmgr@gmail.com> -
Maine Climate Council Public Meetings!
6-7:30 pm
The Maine Climate Council, which advises the Governor's office and climate legislation, is holding public meetings around the state seeking public feedback. It would be great if people weighed in at these meetings to express the need to protect wahsumkik / Sears island and also to express generally the need to avoid Green Colonialism and develop renewable energy with respect for intact ecosystems and local communities. Please share this with people you know who may be able to attend!
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Please Represent the Island at this Maine Labor Climate Council meeting!
We need folks to speak up for protecting the island and keep insisting that Mack Point be considered as a better site for the wind project. Please show up if you can!
Securing the Benefits of Offshore Wind: Community Partnership Plans and Community Benefits Agreements
Searsport Community Building, 42 prospect St., Searsport, ME 04974
Host Contact Info: Joe@mainelaborclimate.org
"Please join us for an evening of learning about Community Partnership Plans and how relevant they are to developing offshore wind infrastructure in Searsport. Panelists include Suzanne Macdonald form the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Anxhela Mile from Conservation Law Fund."
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Listen to Chris Buchanan discussing the island on Voice of Maine 101.3
Description goes here
Want a yard sign?
(or do you know someone who wants one? Please spread the word!)
IN BELFAST: Signs are now available behind the barn at 321 High Street. (Coming from town, just before Belfast Variety, on the right). Pull right in and walk to the right of the barn out back and you will see them!
IN STOCKTON SPRINGS: Signs are now available through Kevin at 117 Cape Jellison Road. (Near the railroad tracks, on the right) Please email Kevin kjerram at gmail dot com to arrange pick up.
By David Italiaander, 5/23/2024
$760 million and rising
Based on information from a Maine Department of Transportation application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant, the wind port that the state wants to build on Sears Island will cost $760 million. MDOT is requesting $456 million in MPDG funds, leaving $304 million for Maine taxpayers and maybe some other federal grants, and money from lease payments.
That begs the question of why is the cost of the wind project now $290 million more than last July? Read More
More Articles & Opinions
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$760 million and rising
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Maine poised to repeat eco-mistakes on Sears Island
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Monday Sand Dune Vote: Some Tribal Perspectives on Proposed Wind Port on Wahsumkik
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The Battle Over Sears Island Continues
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Sprague Energy’s Plan for Mack Point is the Best for Maine’s Offshore Windport
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Economic Benefits of Protecting Nature Exceed Value of Exploiting it, Global Study Finds
Reference Links
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https://allianceforsearsisland.org/
A wealth of information about the island, the threats it faces, and ways to help.
“We support the development of an offshore wind facility at Mack Point, and oppose development of that facility on Sears Island, if any such facility is to be built in Penobscot Bay.
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https://allianceforsearsisland.org/
Trail maps, video tour, events and more.
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Several articles on the current wind port proposal and threats to the island:
https://peer.org/?s=sears+island
Contact ebb studio if you’d like some postcards! ebbstudiome@gmail.com
Please send one to a decision-maker for each one you keep for yourself!
Donations accepted so we can print more.
Photo credits: AC Dibble (H, K2, I2), Derek Dunbar (S3), Ashley Megquier (A1, S1, A2), Kevin Shields (S2, R, L), Katie Giddings (N), Logan Leone (D), courtesty Friends of Sears Island (background, K1, I1, U, E, S4), courtesy Alliance for Sears Island (W, A3, M). Design by ebb studio.