DoomsdaysCW<p>Critics call plan for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a> offshore wind site ‘dangerous precedent,’ point to coastal impacts</p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPower" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPower</span></a> advocates and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/conservationists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>conservationists</span></a> looking to protect <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a> from use as a wind power hub presented their points of view to lawmakers, who must choose between the two sides.</p><p>"Bill would set a dangerous precedent for the destruction of our coastal <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ecosystems" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ecosystems</span></a>"</p><p>Stephen Singer<br>March 18, 2024</p><p>"Opponents urged lawmakers to respect the area’s coastal environment.</p><p>"Tribal Rep. <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AaronDana" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AaronDana</span></a> of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PassamaquoddyTribe" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PassamaquoddyTribe</span></a> said the proposal would disrupt the area’s environment and cause <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/pollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>pollution</span></a>, affecting the ability to fish, hunt and gather 'in the traditional ways that have sustained the Passamaquoddy people' and others.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Industrialization" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Industrialization</span></a> of the areas 'not only (desecrates) our <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SacredSites" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SacredSites</span></a>, but (it also erodes) our cultural heritage and our connection behind the land,' Dana said.</p><p>"Joshua Kercsmar, vice president of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PreserveRuralMaine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PreserveRuralMaine</span></a>, said the conservation group prefers construction of a wind port on the 'already industrialized <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> part of Searsport that has no coastal dunes. </p><p>"He also said the state would set a bad precedent by changing environmental policy.<br>'If through a single bill the laws no longer apply to protecting Sears Island then a troubling question arises: If the state can so easily undo protections on Sears Island sand dunes, why could it not just as easily undo protections on other protected ecosystems elsewhere?' Kercsmar said.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a> and coastal <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/beaches" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>beaches</span></a> protect buildings and infrastructure from waves and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/flooding" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>flooding</span></a> and provide <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/habitat" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>habitat</span></a> for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MigratoryShoreBirds" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MigratoryShoreBirds</span></a> and endangered and threatened species, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MaineAudubon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineAudubon</span></a> said. It suggested establishing a Coastal Sand Dune Restoration and Protection Fund, modeled after Maine’s Lake Water Quality and Restoration Fund, that 'would help kickstart a novel opportunity to increase technical assistance, research and public education.'"</p><p>Source:<br><a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/18/legislature-gets-its-first-look-at-searsport-site-for-offshore-wind-as-backers-and-critics-weigh-in/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">pressherald.com/2024/03/18/leg</span><span class="invisible">islature-gets-its-first-look-at-searsport-site-for-offshore-wind-as-backers-and-critics-weigh-in/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wahsumkik</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Maine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Maine</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FirstNations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FirstNations</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SacredSites" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SacredSites</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/JanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>JanetMills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Corporatocracy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Corporatocracy</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OffshoreWindFarm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OffshoreWindFarm</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wabanaki" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wabanaki</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectTheForest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheForest</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveSearsIsland</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EndangeredSpecies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EndangeredSpecies</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalProtections" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalProtections</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CorporateColonialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CorporateColonialism</span></a></p>