Credit score: “Traditionally undeveloped Sears Island now threatened by Maine’s wind turbine venture” | By Seamus Othot | November 20, 2023 | themainewire.com ~~
The State of Maine intends to develop the untouched Sears Island in Searsport to construct and ship offshore wind generators, in response to Downeast lawmakers who oppose the controversial venture.
“It’s the largest undeveloped uninhabited causeway accessible island on the jap coast of america,” mentioned Rep. Lynne Williams (D-Bar Harbor) in her letter defending Rep. Reagan Paul’s (R-Winterport) proposal to cease the event of Sears Island.
The lawmakers see the Sears Island venture as a destructive environmental impact of Maine’s offshore wind plans, that are alleged to decrease Maine’s greenhouse gasoline emission and thereby forestall anthropogenic international warming.
The event of offshore wind generators additionally has the potential to affect Maine’s lobster and haddock fisheries, in response to scientific research collected and distributed to media by the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Affiliation (NEFSA).
Rep. Paul’s proposal, which was appealed on Thursday’s assembly of Maine’s legislative council, would have granted a conservation easement for land on Sears Island that’s not privately owned.
This may have stopped the event of 100 acres of the 940 acre island.
The attraction failed, with a vote of five-five. The 4 republicans on the council voted for the invoice, together with Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland). The remainder of the Democratic leaders opposed the invoice.
Rep. Williams argued that, along with its ecological worth, and its sentimental worth as untouched wilderness for the folks of her district, Sears Island should be preserved for its historic worth.
“The island is wealthy with indigenous Wabanaki historical past and American historical past from the Revolutionary Warfare that deserves to be preserved and guarded as nicely,” mentioned Paul.
With out Paul’s invoice, there isn’t any laws stopping Maine’s offshore wind trade from industrializing the island.
An identical invoice, proposed by Rep. Tiffany Strout (R-Harrington), was appealed on the similar council session as Paul’s, however, like Paul’s, it failed.
Rep. Strout’s invoice would have helped Maine retain its Lobster Administration Space One whether it is auctioned off to firm’s constructing offshore wind generators.
