BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 21, 2023
Most people are not familiar with the 2007 Sears Island Planning Initiative Consensus Agreement. It set the stage to divide Sears Island into the 601-acre conservation area (held by Maine Coast Heritage Trust), with the remaining 335 acres set aside “for a potential port development.” It’s clear that the reserved land is intended to serve “marine transportation” purposes. Based on the agreement, developing Sears Island for a wind port is inappropriate. The Maine Department of Transportation acknowledges that a proposed wind port could potentially be located on Mack Point, where the 100-acre land requirement could be met, and owner Sprague Energy welcomes the development. There is no clearly documented reason to destroy 100 or more acres of forest, flatten the west side of the island, and fill 20 acres of Penobscot Bay for a wind port. ~ Rolf Olsen, Friends of Sears Island