Clik here to view.
The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Lucy Hochschartner is climate and clean energy director for Maine Conservation Voters.
I’ve been an environmentalist my whole life. As someone who loves to get outdoors — whether in a boat, on skis or on foot — it’s not a choice. I’ve never known a world without climate change. And with the crisis worsening each year, I’ve always known that if I want to keep doing the things I love, with the people I love, I need to help accelerate the transition to clean energy and protect the places we call home from the fossil fuel corporations determined to profit at our expense.
That’s why I spend most of my time working on the most exciting, transformational opportunity Maine has seen in generations — offshore wind. I know we can come together to seize this moment, and if we do, we will be investing in our communities, revitalizing our coastline, creating good union jobs, protecting ourselves from volatile and expensive fossil fuels, and preventing further climate damage from catastrophic storms, rising sea levels, and extreme heat.
But to realize this future, we need a floating offshore wind port.
This spring, the State of Maine announced Sears Island as the preferred site for the port. The state bought Sears Island, a 941-acre area near Searsport, in 1997 for the express purpose of developing a port. In 2009, two-thirds, or about 601 acres, were preserved with a conservation easement managed by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. The remaining third, around 330 acres, was set aside by Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) for future development. The proposed port site is approximately 100 acres, a little over one-tenth of the island.
Some are demanding a port be built at Mack Point, a nearby industrial site, rather than Sears Island. It’s not that simple, and to pretend that it is does everyone a disservice. To bring clean energy and good jobs to Maine, we must build a port that accomplishes a few things. First, it must be able to service commercial-scale floating offshore wind. Second, it must avoid, minimize and mitigate any environmental impacts. Third, it must bring union jobs and economic benefits.
To meet this moment, we must support whichever site accomplishes these goals.
Given the information available now, I have serious doubts about Mack Point’s viability. After all, arguments in favor of that site are coming from the owner, Sprague Energy, a fossil fuel corporation that stands to make millions in lease fees. However, we will soon be learning more. The announcement of a preferred site was merely the first step in a comprehensive permitting process that must be allowed to proceed.
Next steps include a full analysis of potential alternatives to the preferred site to ensure that it meets the project purpose and has the least impact to — and most benefits for — the environment and the communities affected. This process will also include numerous opportunities for public input.
For state permitting, the DOT must navigate the regulations laid out by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, considering laws like the Natural Resources Protection Act and the Site Location of Development Act. Alternatives to Sears Island will be closely scrutinized.
On the federal front, compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will be pivotal. The NEPA process in particular mandates a thorough examination of all alternatives, emphasizing a comprehensive understanding of potential impacts.
It is true that this development would impact the island. It is also true that the climate crisis is the biggest threat to ecosystems, plants, and animals. Developing offshore wind is the solution.
Everyone I’ve spoken with — residents, environmentalists, union members — are united by a deep love of our communities and the places we call home. This stands in stark contrast to the fossil fuel corporations that got us into this mess in the first place. With their ruthless pursuit of profit, they are already trying to destroy our clean energy future. That is why now is the time for everyone who dreams of a better future to stand together and support the port at whichever site the coming permitting process determines is best. That is how we meet this moment.