We, the undersigned, request that the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and any other decision-makers do NOT approve federal funding of an OSW port on Sears Island.
We are signing this petition because we want to protect Sears Island / Wahsumkik from the proposed Off-shore wind (OSW) development. Sears Island as a whole is too valuable as an undeveloped island to the ecology of the region and waters of Penobscot Bay, for future climate resilience, and for free coastal access for people.
If the state pursues an OSW port, they should do everything possible to make it happen on Mack Point, an industrial site directly across the bay with sufficient space and infrastructure to meet Maine's aggressive clean energy goals.
Background:
The State of Maine, through the Department of Transportation and the Governor's Energy Office, is applying for federal grant money to develop an Off-shore Wind Manufacturing, Assembly, and Launching port on Sears Island in Searsport.
The State claims to have performed feasibility studies that prove Sears Island is the most economically feasible, and least environmentally damaging alternative. They also claim to have involved a broad group of stakeholders in the siting decision.
In fact, the State has not performed any environmental impact study, and is withholding the updated study conducted by the State's contracted engineers in 2023 and additional engineering studies that were completed by 3rd party engineers. The Maine DOT also withheld this information and provided outdated information to convince lawmakers to overturn protections for sand dunes on Sears Island, enabling this grant to move forward.
Local stakeholders, including the Searsport Selectboard, had to draft a letter to the Governor and the DOT to request an informational meeting, because they were not consulted for three years before being asked to support the federal grant request. The selectboard did not see the grant request or the language targeting Sears Island, but support an OSW port in Searsport. Additionally last summer at a public meeting hosted by the DOT, there was overwhelming local support for protecting Sears Island and using Mack Point, or no development at all. This feedback appears to have gone unacknowledged.
The majority of stakeholders supporting the project are statewide organizations based in Augusta, with limited local knowledge of Searsport, and substantial self-interest.
We, the undersigned, request that the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and any other decision-makers do NOT approve federal funding of an OSW port on Sears Island.
FMI please visit these websites:
Campaign to Protect Sears Island / Wahsumkik: https://www.protectsearsisland.org/
Alliance for Sears Island: https://allianceforsearsisland.org/
Friends of Sears Island: https://friendsofsearsisland.org/
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 6, 2024
July 5, 2024
We are approaching our next target and the pressure on the Department of Transportation needs to remain high. Send this link to three people in your life who care about the future of Penobscot Bay and ask them to sign today. Post the petition to your Facebook page immediately so we can hit our goal before the week ends.
Reached 100 supporters
May 22, 2024
May 20, 2024
We need to hit one hundred signatures before we push this to the officials at the Department of Transportation. Post the link to your Facebook page right now and text three neighbors to ask them to sign on.
142 Comments
I worked as a surveyor locating the vernal pools on the island. It is a rare treasure to have that expanse of land and uninterrupted natural beauty. How can we be so shortsighted to spoil it
One of the most important reasons to save Sears Island is because the trees there are so valuable as carbon sinks. It makes no sense to cut down trees to make way for industry of any kind, but especially for alternative energy. Let's not destroy the environment to save the environment.
As a resident of Searsport I visit Sears Island at least three days a week to enjoy the serene beauty and connect with other community members. It is well loved and utilized for recreation and therefore does not make sense as a site for intensive development.
I support off shore wind - build on Mack Point instead of Sears's Island. Is the ultimate goal to open up Sear's Island to further industrialization? Because building on Sear's Island is completely antithetical to wisely combatting Climate Change.
We love this island and will continue to fight for its protection. Please do the right thing and site wind development on already industrialized land. Putting the site at Mack Point would be the most climate-friendly move, and would be welcomed by the local community.
The State of Maine has a precarious relationship with the Wabanaki Tribes and with the environmental well-being of the state and surrounding waters and areas. Developing on undeveloped island land when a developed island nearby is readily available would be an egregious error that could potentially set back Tribal relations and climate resiliency. In short, this deal would cause much pain for little gain, with even less logic supporting it.
If people want to protect and repair the climate, it is imperative to preserve the undeveloped spaces we have left. No development on Sears Island will *improve* the climate predicament. It will only make it worse.
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We, the undersigned, request that the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and any other decision-makers do NOT approve federal funding of an OSW port on Sears Island.
We are signing this petition because we want to protect Sears Island / Wahsumkik from the proposed Off-shore wind (OSW) development. Sears Island as a whole is too valuable as an undeveloped island to the ecology of the region and waters of Penobscot Bay, for future climate resilience, and for free coastal access for people.
If the state pursues an OSW port, they should do everything possible to make it happen on Mack Point, an industrial site directly across the bay with sufficient space and infrastructure to meet Maine's aggressive clean energy goals.
Background:
The State of Maine, through the Department of Transportation and the Governor's Energy Office, is applying for federal grant money to develop an Off-shore Wind Manufacturing, Assembly, and Launching port on Sears Island in Searsport.
The State claims to have performed feasibility studies that prove Sears Island is the most economically feasible, and least environmentally damaging alternative. They also claim to have involved a broad group of stakeholders in the siting decision.
In fact, the State has not performed any environmental impact study, and is withholding the updated study conducted by the State's contracted engineers in 2023 and additional engineering studies that were completed by 3rd party engineers. The Maine DOT also withheld this information and provided outdated information to convince lawmakers to overturn protections for sand dunes on Sears Island, enabling this grant to move forward.
Local stakeholders, including the Searsport Selectboard, had to draft a letter to the Governor and the DOT to request an informational meeting, because they were not consulted for three years before being asked to support the federal grant request. The selectboard did not see the grant request or the language targeting Sears Island, but support an OSW port in Searsport. Additionally last summer at a public meeting hosted by the DOT, there was overwhelming local support for protecting Sears Island and using Mack Point, or no development at all. This feedback appears to have gone unacknowledged.
The majority of stakeholders supporting the project are statewide organizations based in Augusta, with limited local knowledge of Searsport, and substantial self-interest.
We, the undersigned, request that the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and any other decision-makers do NOT approve federal funding of an OSW port on Sears Island.
FMI please visit these websites:
Campaign to Protect Sears Island / Wahsumkik: https://www.protectsearsisland.org/
Alliance for Sears Island: https://allianceforsearsisland.org/
Friends of Sears Island: https://friendsofsearsisland.org/
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 6, 2024
July 5, 2024
We are approaching our next target and the pressure on the Department of Transportation needs to remain high. Send this link to three people in your life who care about the future of Penobscot Bay and ask them to sign today. Post the petition to your Facebook page immediately so we can hit our goal before the week ends.
Reached 100 supporters
May 22, 2024
May 20, 2024
We need to hit one hundred signatures before we push this to the officials at the Department of Transportation. Post the link to your Facebook page right now and text three neighbors to ask them to sign on.
142 Comments
My mothers ashes were spread into the ocean along the shore of Sears Island. It is a sacred place to myself and my family that we visit throughout the year. There are undoubtedly countless others who cherish the island as much as we do, and wish for it to remain an unspoilt preserve.
I worked as a surveyor locating the vernal pools on the island. It is a rare treasure to have that expanse of land and uninterrupted natural beauty. How can we be so shortsighted to spoil it
One of the most important reasons to save Sears Island is because the trees there are so valuable as carbon sinks. It makes no sense to cut down trees to make way for industry of any kind, but especially for alternative energy. Let's not destroy the environment to save the environment.
As a resident of Searsport I visit Sears Island at least three days a week to enjoy the serene beauty and connect with other community members. It is well loved and utilized for recreation and therefore does not make sense as a site for intensive development.
I support off shore wind - build on Mack Point instead of Sears's Island. Is the ultimate goal to open up Sear's Island to further industrialization? Because building on Sear's Island is completely antithetical to wisely combatting Climate Change.
We love this island and will continue to fight for its protection. Please do the right thing and site wind development on already industrialized land. Putting the site at Mack Point would be the most climate-friendly move, and would be welcomed by the local community.
The State of Maine has a precarious relationship with the Wabanaki Tribes and with the environmental well-being of the state and surrounding waters and areas. Developing on undeveloped island land when a developed island nearby is readily available would be an egregious error that could potentially set back Tribal relations and climate resiliency. In short, this deal would cause much pain for little gain, with even less logic supporting it.
If people want to protect and repair the climate, it is imperative to preserve the undeveloped spaces we have left. No development on Sears Island will *improve* the climate predicament. It will only make it worse.
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My mothers ashes were spread into the ocean along the shore of Sears Island. It is a sacred place to myself and my family that we visit throughout the year. There are undoubtedly countless others who cherish the island as much as we do, and wish for it to remain an unspoilt preserve.