The state of Maine is considering using 100 acres or more on the western shore of Sears Island as the site where enormous floating wind turbines will be built and then deployed to the Gulf of Maine as part of Maine’s renewable energy plan. We agree with the urgent need to develop new sources of renewable energy, but not with the sacrifice of an ecological and recreational treasure on the Maine coast, whose forests and marine systems already store carbon. We support using Mack Point as the location to build and launch floating wind turbines. We will make every effort to keep this page updated with the latest news and information as this process unfolds. Here you will find links to background information, news coverage, and informational video programs to help you understand the potential impact of the Offshore Wind Turbine project on Sears Island and the Town of Searsport. Click here if you’d like to receive email updates. If you have questions or comments, please email to info@friendsofsearsisland.org.
Links to Governor’s announcement and the Moffatt & Nichol Feasibility Study:
- Official news release on Governor Mills’ web page (November 23, 2021)
- 94-page (PDF) Feasibility Study by Moffatt & Nichol for MaineDOT
News Coverage: (Some items may be behind a paywall and require a subscription.)
- NewsCenter TV Story (November 29, 2021)
- Republican Journal Article (December 6)
- Free Press Article (December 7)
- Bangor Daily News Article (December 10,2021)
- The Maine Monitor Article (December 19, 2021)
- Islesboro Urges Mack Point over Sears Island (January 31)
- Bangor Daily News Article (March 9, 2022)
- Bangor Daily News Article (March 11, 2022)
Videos:
- Maine Conservation Voters: Video of Lunch & Learn program (February 2022) Join Celina Cunningham from the Governor’s Energy Office and Matthew Burns from the Maine Department of Transportation to learn more about the two potential concepts and how the public can engage with this process. This presentation was hosted by Maine Conservation Voters.
- “Somewhere in Waldo County” video program about the Offshore Wind Program (March 2022) A program by Ned Lightner for broadcast on Belfast Community TV and elsewhere.
- A Youtube video showing the building and launch of floating wind turbines in Scotland
- Friends of Sears Island’s March 9 Zoom program A discussion of reasons why the floating wind turbine construction site should be located on Mack Point, an already industrialized location.
Other Background Documents:
- Sears Island Planning Initiative Consensus Agreement (2007) This document was created by the group of stakeholders to consider the future of Sears Island. (PDF)
- Sears Island Options for the Future, produced in 2007, this study considers an economically productive and ecologically sustainable future for Sears Island. (PDF)
- Sears Island Habitat 2007 A map created in 2007 by MaineDOT showing plant and animal habitat areas on Sears Island. (PDF)
- Sears Island Ecological Characteristics 2007 A map created in 2007 showing locations of eelgrass, amphibian breeding areas, and wetlands on Sears Island. (PDF)
- Maine Won’t Wait: a Four-Year Plan for Climate Action Link to the 124-page 2020 report from the Maine Climate Council. (PDF)