BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 20, 2024
Sears Island in Searsport will serve as the staging ground for Maine’s new offshore wind port, Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday. The decision to use about 100 acres of the 941-acre island after years of planning and public feedback was not surprising. While it is only an initial part of Maine’s broader plan to unlock the potential of offshore wind, the preference for Sears Island has received criticism from some conservationists and an alliance of conservatives and progressives. They argue the port will damage the wildlife, hiking and birding opportunities that draw visitors to the largest undeveloped island in Penobscot Bay.