BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 12, 2024
Maine is closing in on picking the location of a large offshore wind port, a move that will be a milestone in reaching state climate goals but will accelerate a thorny political debate over the state’s energy future. An unusual alliance of conservation groups, conservatives and progressives has opposed using the 941-acre island for the wind base. But all signs point to the state choosing Sears Island in Searsport. The state has already noted fewer hurdles regarding costs and construction than nearby Mack Point. Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, announced the deepwater port plan in 2021 as a key part of reaching Maine’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.