Greenpeace International<p>The consent check aims to ensure that timber from unsustainable sources does not enter the company's normal product flow. Such timber cannot be sold as sustainable or certified.</p><p>Let’s tell the shareholders the real story, not the SCA greenwashed version of events.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/StandWithS%C3%A1pmi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>StandWithSápmi</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/ProtectTheForest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheForest</span></a></p>
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#ProtectTheForest
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DoomsdaysCW<p>Bills revive debate over <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a> port plan</p><p>Maine Public | By Peter McGuire<br>Published March 12, 2025 </p><p>"Lawmakers heard more than five hours of testimony Wednesday from both sides of a debate over preserving Sears Island in the Town of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a>.</p><p>"A pair of bills from state representative Reagan Paul would extend a <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ConservationEasement" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ConservationEasement</span></a> across the island and restore <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDuneProtections" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDuneProtections</span></a> in a 330-acre parcel set aside for development.</p><p>"The Winterport Republican said it's time to end decades of controversial port proposals for the island in the town of Searsport. The latest plan is a floating offshore wind port by the Maine Department of Transportation that has so far failed to attract federal funding.</p><p>"'And yet <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MDOT" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MDOT</span></a> refuses to face reality, doubling down on failure and proving this is not about offshore wind, it is about pushing <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IndustrialDevelopment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IndustrialDevelopment</span></a> at any cost,' Paul told members of the legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee.</p><p>"Local <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/conservationists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>conservationists</span></a> support the proposal and said the highest and best use of the island is as a wild area. Any commercial development, including the wind port, can be done at nearby <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a>, a fuel and materials terminal."</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2025-03-12/bills-revive-debate-over-sears-island-port-plan" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">mainepublic.org/climate/2025-0</span><span class="invisible">3-12/bills-revive-debate-over-sears-island-port-plan</span></a> <br><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/ProtectNature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectNature</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/WindTurbines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTurbines</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPort" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPort</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotBay</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EndangeredSpecies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EndangeredSpecies</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>YES! VICTORY! Public pushback makes a difference!</p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MaineTurnpikeAuthority" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineTurnpikeAuthority</span></a> drops controversial <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamConnector" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamConnector</span></a> project</p><p>by WGME Staff Thu, March 6th 2025 at 7:56 PM</p><p>GORHAM (WGME) – "The Maine Turnpike Authority is now dropping its controversial Gorham connector project.</p><p>"The project would have built a new highway from South Portland to Gorham, with the goal of easing heavy road congestion.</p><p>"The MTA paused the project last year after receiving backlash from local residents.</p><p>"The project would have required the demolition of nearly a dozen homes and confiscation of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/farmland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>farmland</span></a>."</p><p>"'There was a lot of concern, and people wondered if it's the right-sized tool for the job, a lot of people have concerns that, building another highway, there's concerns that it will just fill up,' MTA Director of Communications Erin Courtney said.</p><p>The MTA says it's heading back to the drawing board to re-examine traffic conditions and review past mobility studies to find better ways to ease congestion in the area." [Like <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LightRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LightRail</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RapidTransitBusLines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RapidTransitBusLines</span></a> and more <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BikeLanes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BikeLanes</span></a>!]</p><p><a href="https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-turnpike-authority-drops-controversial-gorham-connector-project-south-portland" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">wgme.com/news/local/maine-turn</span><span class="invisible">pike-authority-drops-controversial-gorham-connector-project-south-portland</span></a><br><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/SaveSmilingHillFarm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveSmilingHillFarm</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SmilingHillFarm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmilingHillFarm</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/InducedSprawl" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>InducedSprawl</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamConnector" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamConnector</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MainersForSmarterTransportation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MainersForSmarterTransportation</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/MaineNews" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineNews</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamBypass" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamBypass</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamSpur" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamSpur</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/RapidTransit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RapidTransit</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveTheFarms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveTheFarms</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/InducedDemand" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>InducedDemand</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Sprawl" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Sprawl</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveRedBrook" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveRedBrook</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectTheWetlands" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheWetlands</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BrookTrout" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BrookTrout</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveTheForest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveTheForest</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wildlife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HuskyLine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HuskyLine</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RapidBusTransit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RapidBusTransit</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>Good! Build it on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a>, not <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a>! Feds reject Maine’s request for $456 million to build proposed wind port at Sears Island</p><p>by Stephen Singer<br>October 22, 2024</p><p>"Rolf Olsen, vice president of the board of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FriendsOfSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FriendsOfSearsIsland</span></a>, which manages a portion of the island set aside for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/conservation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>conservation</span></a>, and an opponent of the Sears Island proposed site, said the federal decision 'would appear to be a significant financial blow' to develop the manufacturing facility.</p><p>"'We’re somewhat encouraged that the state’s port development grant application was turned down, especially since it only considered developing Sears Island and not Mack Point,' he said.</p><p>Source:<br><a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/22/feds-reject-maines-456-million-request-to-build-wind-port-at-sears-island/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">pressherald.com/2024/10/22/fed</span><span class="invisible">s-reject-maines-456-million-request-to-build-wind-port-at-sears-island/</span></a></p><p>Archived version:<br><a href="https://archive.md/ej9E4" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">archive.md/ej9E4</span><span class="invisible"></span></a> </p><p><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/ProtectNature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectNature</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/WindTurbines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTurbines</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPort" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPort</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/PenobscotBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotBay</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EndangeredSpecies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EndangeredSpecies</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>Upcoming meeting! Find out about alternatives to the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamConnector" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamConnector</span></a> in Southern <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/LessCars" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LessCars</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MorePublicTransportation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MorePublicTransportation</span></a>!</p><p>Gorham Notes: Aug. 29, 2024<br>by Robert Lowell</p><p>"Gorham connector forum<br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MainersForSmarterTransportation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MainersForSmarterTransportation</span></a> have a community forum planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WestbrookMaine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WestbrookMaine</span></a> Community Center on the proposed Gorham Connector to the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MaineTurnpike" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineTurnpike</span></a>. </p><p>"The <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MaineTurnpikeAuthority" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineTurnpikeAuthority</span></a> is proposing a 5-mile, four-lane connector from the roundabout on Gorham’s South Street to Exit 45 in South Portland.<br>The plan calls for the connector to slice through <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SmilingHillFarm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmilingHillFarm</span></a> and has generated an extensive public outcry. The connector is aimed at easing the heavy commuter traffic in the routes 22 and 114 corridor through <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamMaine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamMaine</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ScarboroughMaine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ScarboroughMaine</span></a> and Westbrook."</p><p>Original article [may be behind paywall]:<br><a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2024/08/29/gorham-notes-aug-29/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">pressherald.com/2024/08/29/gor</span><span class="invisible">ham-notes-aug-29/</span></a></p><p>Archive:<br><a href="https://archive.md/qDpDR#selection-2399.0-2413.250" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">archive.md/qDpDR#selection-239</span><span class="invisible">9.0-2413.250</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveSmilingHillFarm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveSmilingHillFarm</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamConnector" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamConnector</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamBypass" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamBypass</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveSmilingHill" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveSmilingHill</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamSpur" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamSpur</span></a><br><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/RapidTransit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RapidTransit</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LightRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LightRail</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveTheFarms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveTheFarms</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/InducedDemand" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>InducedDemand</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Sprawl" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Sprawl</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveRedBrook" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveRedBrook</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>Proposed offshore <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPort" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPort</span></a> on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a> raises new conflicts for coastal Mainers, environmental activists</p><p>Residents concerned about both <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateChange" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateChange</span></a> and preservation are conflicted over plans for a facility on Sears Island that could be key to launching Maine's offshore wind industry</p><p>Annie Ropeik, The Maine Monitor<br>July 14, 2024</p><p>"Dow and activists like Huber want the port built instead at a <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SpragueEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SpragueEnergy</span></a>-owned oil and logistics terminal across the water known as <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a>. It was considered as an alternative in lengthy public processes in recent years, and Sprague and opponents of the Sears Island proposal have continued to urge reconsideration for it so far this summer.</p><p>"Offshore wind has taken some big steps forward in Maine this year. Federal regulators approved a state research array of floating turbines, which generate power in deep waters far offshore, and are nearing leasing for commercial projects. </p><p>"A new state law calls for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Maine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Maine</span></a> to procure 3 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2040, using union- standard labor to build the projects and a floating wind-focused port. </p><p>"Formal environmental assessments and site analyses are still pending. But state port authority director Matthew Burns wrote in June that Mack Point’s 'physical and logistical constraints, need for significant dredging, and increased costs to taxpayers for land leasing and port construction would result in an expensive and inferior port for Maine compared to a versatile, purpose-built port on Sears Island.'</p><p>"Still, opponents worry that <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wetlands" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wetlands</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/forests" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>forests</span></a> on Sears Island could be disrupted by port construction, even if most of the surrounding <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ecosystem" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ecosystem</span></a> remains intact. </p><p>"'Because we have to sacrifice something, let’s sacrifice something irreplaceable, instead of cleaning up a dirty old existing port?' Huber said outside the event. 'That’s just ridiculous.'"</p><p><a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2024/07/14/proposed-offshore-wind-port-on-sears-island-raises-new-conflicts-for-coastal-mainers-environmental-activists/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">pressherald.com/2024/07/14/pro</span><span class="invisible">posed-offshore-wind-port-on-sears-island-raises-new-conflicts-for-coastal-mainers-environmental-activists/</span></a></p><p>Archived version:<br><a href="https://archive.md/HBPgT" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">archive.md/HBPgT</span><span class="invisible"></span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wahsumkik</span></a><br><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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GovernorJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovernorJanetMills</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/CorporateColonialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CorporateColonialism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wassumkeag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wassumkeag</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>Common <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wildlife</span></a> of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wassumkeag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wassumkeag</span></a> Island (<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a>)</p><p>"This is an ongoing list of the types of wildlife found on Wassumkeag (Sears) Island. It is based on reported observations. There are many other animal species on Sears Island, however, that have not been seen so are not included in this list. The list does not include most aquatic or tidal organisms. Please see our other guide for birds. New species will be added in future updates so check back. </p><p>American Mink</p><p>American Red Squirrel</p><p>American Toad</p><p>Common Garter Snake</p><p>Common Porcupine</p><p>Common Raccoon</p><p>Deer Mouse</p><p>Eastern Chipmunk</p><p>Eastern Cottontail</p><p>Eastern Gray Squirrel</p><p>Harbor Seal</p><p>Moose</p><p>Northeastern coyote</p><p>Ribbon Snake</p><p>Smooth Greensnake</p><p>Spring Peeper</p><p>Striped Skunk</p><p>White-tailed Deer</p><p>Wood Frog</p><p>Yellow-Spotted Salamander"</p><p>Source:<br><a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/3233" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="">inaturalist.org/guides/3233</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p>"We welcome your submissions of observations! Please visit our website at <a href="http://friendsofsearsisland.org/explore-the-island/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="ellipsis">friendsofsearsisland.org/explo</span><span class="invisible">re-the-island/</span></a> to log observations. You may also add species to our Inaturalist Project, 'Plants and Animals of Sears Island.'"</p><p><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/ProtectNature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectNature</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WednesdaysForWildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WednesdaysForWildlife</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/WindTurbines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTurbines</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPort" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPort</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotBay</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</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/GovernorJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovernorJanetMills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GreenEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GreenEnergy</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a>: The Answer to Green Energy, Or Home to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Biodiverse" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Biodiverse</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wildlife</span></a>?</p><p>by Freyja Grey<br>Jul 16, 2024 </p><p>"The <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wabanaki" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wabanaki</span></a> people indigenous to the area named Sears Island <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wassumkeag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wassumkeag</span></a>, or Shining Beach. The tribes used the island to hunt and fish for centuries.</p><p>"McCarthy said, 'They've been documented archeologically to have had a presence here for at least thirty-five hundred years.... There's a bio-regional perspective that considers all the relations: the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/insects" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>insects</span></a>, the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/grasses" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>grasses</span></a>, the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/trees" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>trees</span></a>, the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/eelgrass" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>eelgrass</span></a>, the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/birds" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>birds</span></a>, the critters that roam these woods — if you really want to speak for Sears Island, it's incumbent, not just for poets and photographers and old hippies, it's incumbent for all of us to be mindful of all that is happening here.'</p><p>"McCarthy said he gets why the island is an attractive place for development. 'We're in a time where wind energy is important,' he said. 'We need to find green sources of power, but the narrowness of that human perspective needs to be challenged.'</p><p>"Both McCarthy and Lawless join the group <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FriendsOfSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FriendsOfSearsIsland</span></a> in maintaining that <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> is better situated for development. </p><p>"Even though 600 acres of the island are protected by a conservation easement, industrial disruption to the peaceful island could lead to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environmental</span></a> impacts that may not be fully realized until after development, according to McCarthy."</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.freepressonline.com/news/sears-island-the-answer-to-green-energy-or-home-to-biodiverse-wildlife/article_b9f01324-3ed0-11ef-8f73-2f4dbf7e4a56.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">freepressonline.com/news/sears</span><span class="invisible">-island-the-answer-to-green-energy-or-home-to-biodiverse-wildlife/article_b9f01324-3ed0-11ef-8f73-2f4dbf7e4a56.html</span></a></p><p><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/ProtectNature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectNature</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WednesdaysForWildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WednesdaysForWildlife</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/WindTurbines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTurbines</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPort" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPort</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/PenobscotBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotBay</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</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/GovernorJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovernorJanetMills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GreenEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GreenEnergy</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SpragueEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SpragueEnergy</span></a> offers alternative plan for offshore <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPort" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPort</span></a> at <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a></p><p>Story by Katie Delaney <br>June 11, 2024</p><p>"The State of Maine is planning to build its first offshore wind port on Sears Island in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a>, but Sprague Energy is pushing for its facility at Mack Point to be reconsidered as the site for the project.</p><p>"Leaders of Sprague Energy held tours Tuesday to show people their plan for offshore wind at Mack Point which they say is a lower-impact alternative to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a>.</p><p>"'This is a technology we've been serving for 20 years; we know what we do, we know our plan is rational,' Sprague Energy Vice President of Materials Handling Jim Therriault said.</p><p>"Sprague Energy has been working on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTurbines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTurbines</span></a> for the land, but it’s ready to take them to the sea.</p><p>"Therriault said the plan will impact the land less than the Sears Island project while still preserving their current operations.</p><p>"'We came up with a plan that gives you the same, if not more, capability and we did it with greatly reduced dredging, probably about an 85 percent reduction,' Therriault said. </p><p>"Sprague would make money on the deal. It would lease 100 acres of its facility to the State of Maine. Sprague says its site would be cheaper than Sears Island.</p><p>"'That lease fee will likely be lower than the state financing fees,' Sprague Energy President and CEO Dave Glendon said."</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/sprague-energy-unveils-plan-for-alternative-offshore-wind-port-at-mack-point/ar-BB1o2UwV" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">msn.com/en-us/money/companies/</span><span class="invisible">sprague-energy-unveils-plan-for-alternative-offshore-wind-port-at-mack-point/ar-BB1o2UwV</span></a> </p><p><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/PenobscotBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotBay</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</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/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <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/EndangeredSpecies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EndangeredSpecies</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GovernorJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovernorJanetMills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wassumkeag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wassumkeag</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>Energy company wants <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Maine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Maine</span></a> to use its port instead of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a> for offshore wind hub</p><p>Competition for Maine's offshore <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindPort" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindPort</span></a> is sharpening with <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SpragueEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SpragueEnergy</span></a> Operating Resources proposing <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> as an alternative to the state's preferred site on nearby Sears Island.</p><p>by Stephen Singer, June 6, 2024</p><p>[Behind a paywall -- full text below]</p><p>An energy and port services company is pitching its Mack Point industrial property as a location for an offshore wind port, offering it as an alternative to the site on nearby Sears Island that is preferred by the state but opposed by local residents.</p><p>Sprague Operating Resources LLC on Thursday released details of its plan for Maine’s offshore wind project in Searsport. It says its site will be less costly than the Sears Island location and spare that area the disruption caused by port construction, a key issue that locals have criticized. The plan proposes a launching dock, assembly area for wind turbines before they’re dispatched to the Gulf of Maine and a recently updated rail yard.</p><p>“We can’t get the state to look at this plan seriously,” said James Therriault, vice president of materials handling at Sprague.</p><p>The Mills administration says Sears Island is the best choice for an offshore wind port because the site is owned by the state, saving money that would otherwise be required to lease another location, and is designated for port development.</p><p>State officials also have said that the Sears Island site would not require dredging, unlike at Mack Point. But Therriault said Mack Point has been dredged to a depth that can accept ships. “We’ll take advantage of depth that’s already there,” he said.</p><p>Sprague says its Mack Point Terminal offers 100 acres separate from current activities, a base launching dock allowing the use of a semi-submersible barge or Tug Dock device – next-generation equipment used to install offshore wind platforms – and a second large vessel dock for Sprague’s bulk and liquid operations that can also serve as a backup dock.</p><p>“Sprague believes it’s in the best interests of Mainers to urge the state to fully analyze the costs, timings and impacts of Sprague’s alternative design,” Therriault said. “We believe this alternative achieves the goal of minimizing impacts on natural and working lands, while reducing overall cost and providing all the same operational and vessel functionality.”</p><p>In response to Sprague’s proposal, the state Department of Transportation said Mack Point has “physical and logistical constraints.” The agency says the area would require a “significant” need for dredging and greater costs to Maine taxpayers for leasing and construction, resulting in a “more expensive and inferior port facility for Maine compared to Sears Island.”</p><p>“What are those constraints?” asked Rolf Olsen, vice president of Friends of Sears Island, a volunteer, nonprofit organization that manages a conservation area on the island. He opposes the state’s proposal and favors Mack Point.</p><p>State officials use the “same generalities” as they have before, he said. “I don’t see anything new here.”<br>DOT officials said Sears Island is “one of the best sites for a deep-water port on the Eastern Seaboard, which is why a portion of the island has been reserved for port development for many years.”</p><p>“By all available information, analysis and stakeholder input, Sears Island is the most feasible and cost-effective location for an offshore wind port,” the state said.</p><p>The state’s selection of Sears Island as its preferred site “followed two years of evaluation, local discussions and assessment of all other port options – including Mack Point,” the DOT said.</p><p>Gov. <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/JanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>JanetMills</span></a> announced in February the state’s preferred site at Sears Island. The selection is subject to state and federal permitting and will be analyzed in comparison to Mack Point.</p><p>Olsen said redeveloping Mack Point, “which has thrived as an industrial site for more than a century” would be less disruptive than building a port on Sears Island.<br>The state, he said is “single-mindedly going for Sears Island.” </p><p><a href="https://www.centralmaine.com/2024/06/06/energy-company-wants-maine-to-use-its-port-for-offshore-wind-hub-instead-of-sears-island/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">centralmaine.com/2024/06/06/en</span><span class="invisible">ergy-company-wants-maine-to-use-its-port-for-offshore-wind-hub-instead-of-sears-island/</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/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a> <br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTurbines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTurbines</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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</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/OffshoreWindFarm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OffshoreWindFarm</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectNature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectNature</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MDOT" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MDOT</span></a> Plans New <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SearsIsland</span></a> Road and Rail Access Corridor Through Current <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ConservationLand" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ConservationLand</span></a></p><p>Published by<br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/allianceforsearsisland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>allianceforsearsisland</span></a> </p><p>on May 23, 2024</p><p>"Can we hold the Maine Department of Transportation accountable for bull-dozing their way toward developing Sears Island and industrializing <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotBay</span></a>, along the way breaking promises, rewriting environmental protection law, changing the Sears Island conservation easement, withholding from the public important development costs and impacts and avoiding open, honest, transparent public involvement?</p><p>"We might be tempted to begin our list of facts illustrating MDOT’s abuse of authority and public trust with the illegal filling of Sears Island <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wetlands" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wetlands</span></a> and construction of the causeway, apparently in violation of its permit, in the 1980’s. But let’s keep to the more recent offshore wind record of broken promises and undisclosed development activity. </p><p>"During the Governor’s announcement in February, [<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GovJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovJanetMills</span></a>] claimed, without supporting data, that Sears Island development 'will cost less' and 'is expected to result in less environmental harm' than would development of a state-owned but privately operated offshore wind facility at Mack Point.</p><p>"The 'cost less' assertion raised major questions not yet answered in part because, a few months earlier, at the last OSWPAG meeting, we were told, 'The total project cost for construction is very similar for both MP ($460 Million Total Project Cost) and SI ($470 Million Total Project Cost).'</p><p>"Sears Island’s current <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/undeveloped" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>undeveloped</span></a>, natural condition, provides important ecological services to the region and state, especially for fisheries, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CarbonSequestration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CarbonSequestration</span></a> and publicly accessible recreation. <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> does not provide these ecological services. According to a reliable source, every acre of intact Sears Island forest locks up between 80 and 100 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year – <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CO2" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CO2</span></a> that cannot harm our <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/climate" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>climate</span></a>.</p><p>"Developing Sears Island proposes removing all vegetation and life from more than 100 acres on Sears Island, nearly one-third of which is existing or historical <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wetland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wetland</span></a>, and then harvesting 1.4 million cubic yards of soil to create an impermeable, nearly level work area. Doing so constitutes radical, permanent, irreparable ecological damage, forever eliminating current upland and associated marine <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environmental</span></a> benefits. This exactly flips an appropriate climate-change response and dramatically undermines any claim that developing Sears Island instead of Mack Point represents the least environmentally damaging choice.</p><p>Broken Promises</p><p>"In 2007, the state promised to choose <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> as the preferred location for future marine transportation development. The Sears Island agreement, signed by 38 stakeholders including the Maine Department of Transportation, and adopted as state policy by then-Governor Baldacci and the State of Maine’s Joint Standing Committee on Transportation, says: 'Mack Point shall be given preference as an alternative to port development on Sears Island.'</p><p>"The Sears Island agreement also committed the State of Maine from ever harvesting soil from the island. Ever. Not one cubic yard of soil would be harvested and certainly not 1.4 million cubic yards of soil!</p><p>Sadly, the Governor’s announcement and subsequent actions taken by MDOT toward developing Sears Island render the promises made in 2007 by our government worthless.</p><p>Broken Laws</p><p>"But highly questionable governmental actions in pursuit of developing Sears Island continue. In March this year the Governor brought forward the sand dune bill that allows violation of sand <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/dune" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>dune</span></a> system protections on Sears Island and creates a dangerous threat in the future for any environmental law that may interfere with MDOT development aspirations. Though initially failing to pass in the House, the bill eventually became law after strong political pressure.</p><p>New Sears Island Road and Rail Corridor</p><p>"And now we come to the MDOT application for a federal grant specifically to develop Sears Island. Nestled within several documents associated with the grant application is page 2 of a two-drawing file titled, Sears Island Wind Port Concept Drawing 2024-04-29, copy attached or available at <a href="https://www.maine.gov/mdot/grants/infra/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="">maine.gov/mdot/grants/infra/</span><span class="invisible"></span></a>.</p><p>"The illustration depicts a new 'heavy load' access road and rail corridor as part of Sears Island development plans for the first time, at least in public.</p><p>"As proposed, the new approximately 2,300-foot-long rail and road access corridor passes through a thickly wooded portion of the island, crossing at least two perennial streams and disturbing additional wetlands along the way. Assuming a 100-foot width, the corridor would destroy more than 5.25 acres of intact natural landscape, in addition to the more than 100-acre upland ecological destruction at the facility site proper.</p><p>"Adding insult to injury, the proposed new road and rail corridor requires changing the conservation easement boundary in the vicinity.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FriendsOfSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FriendsOfSearsIsland</span></a> Vice President Rolf Olsen received confirmation of the new road and rail access plan from Kay Rand in response to his query. Rand also substantiated that the new access corridor would cross a portion of the conservation parcel and necessitate a change in that parcel’s boundary.</p><p>"According to budget information included with the grant application, clearing, grubbing, excavation and borrow, grading, drainage, erosion control, paving and other work related to this access corridor will add $8 million to the cost of developing Sears Island. Mack Point already provides both a heavy load road and rail.</p><p>"The new Sears Island rail and road access corridor presents yet another failure by MDOT to incorporate an honest understanding of climate change into decision-making. As MDOT fiddles for federal grant money to pursue a mega facility on Sears Island, the Earth tilts toward catastrophic climate change.</p><p>"I will venture the opinion that, had the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MillsAdministration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MillsAdministration</span></a> and MDOT focused offshore wind port research on Mack Point as promised in March 2020 (see attached press release), as promised in the Sears Island Planning Initiative, and as the historical record certainly suggests is the rational approach, including deeply exploring development possibilities there with <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SpragueEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SpragueEnergy</span></a>, they might already have secured permits and seen construction begun.<br> <br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Accountability" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Accountability</span></a> Now</p><p>"End the insulting double-speak. With honor and integrity, not intrigue and obfuscation, open-up and bring the full spectrum of facts to this decision. Accountability now!"</p><p>Steve Miller</p><p><a href="https://allianceforsearsisland.org/2024/05/23/mdot-plans-new-sears-island-road-and-rail-access-corridor-though-current-conservation-land/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">allianceforsearsisland.org/202</span><span class="invisible">4/05/23/mdot-plans-new-sears-island-road-and-rail-access-corridor-though-current-conservation-land/</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AllianceForSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AllianceForSearsIsland</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wahsumkik</span></a><br><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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GovernorJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovernorJanetMills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WabanakiAlliance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WabanakiAlliance</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CulturalGenocide" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CulturalGenocide</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalRacism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalRacism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotNation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotNation</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Passamaquoddy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Passamaquoddy</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/CorporateColonialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CorporateColonialism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wassumkeag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wassumkeag</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SpragueEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SpragueEnergy</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OffshoreWind" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OffshoreWind</span></a> Plan</p><p>Published by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AllianceForSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AllianceForSearsIsland</span></a> on<br>May 16, 2024</p><p>"The Bangor Daily News published an excellent op-ed by Sprague Energy’s Jim Therriault on May 14 that lays out the numerous reasons why building the state’s offshore wind manufacturing, assembling and launching facility there is the best alternative if it is built in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotBay</span></a>.</p><p>"Sprague also announced that the public may tour their Mack Point facility and learn more about their offshore wind plan on Tuesday, June 11. Pre-registration is required by contacting Chris Goddard at chris@cgprpublicrelations.com or laura@cgprpublicrelations.com</p><p>Source:<br><a href="https://allianceforsearsisland.org/2024/05/16/sprague-energy-mack-point-offshore-wind-plan/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">allianceforsearsisland.org/202</span><span class="invisible">4/05/16/sprague-energy-mack-point-offshore-wind-plan/</span></a></p><p>OpEd:<br><a href="https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/05/14/opinion/opinion-contributor/sprague-energy-mack-point-wind-port-plan/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">bangordailynews.com/2024/05/14</span><span class="invisible">/opinion/opinion-contributor/sprague-energy-mack-point-wind-port-plan/</span></a>)</p><p>For more information, visit <a href="https://www.spragueenergy.com/mack-point" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="">spragueenergy.com/mack-point</span><span class="invisible"></span></a>.</p><p><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/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <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/EndangeredSpecies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EndangeredSpecies</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/GovernorJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovernorJanetMills</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/Wassumkeag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wassumkeag</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDune" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDune</span></a> Vote:<br>Some Tribal Perspectives on<br>Proposed Wind Port on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wahsumkik</span></a> </p><p>“..For both <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wabanaki" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wabanaki</span></a> people and non Wabanaki people...It has a great amount of history. It's ecologically sensitive and important to the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ecosystem" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ecosystem</span></a> of our coast...” - Darren Ranco,<br>PhD, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Penobscot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Penobscot</span></a> Citizen, Professor at the University of Maine, MITSC Commissioner, <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/ClimateCouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateCouncil</span></a> committee member.</p><p>April, 2024</p><p>"Sears Island (known also by the Penobscot name Wahsumkik) is the largest <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/undeveloped" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>undeveloped</span></a> island within the state and one of the largest on the eastern seaboard, and considered important to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BirdMigration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BirdMigration</span></a>. Construction of a wind port operation would require the destruction of 70 acres of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/forest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>forest</span></a> and would impact a yet to be assessed area of marine eel grass. The destruction of a sand dune was<br>reportedly missed in a first assessment of the site, thus prompting the Governor's bill."</p><p><a href="https://allianceforsearsisland.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tribal-perspective.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">allianceforsearsisland.org/wp-</span><span class="invisible">content/uploads/2024/04/tribal-perspective.pdf</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectSearsIsland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectSearsIsland</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WindTerminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WindTerminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SandDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SandDunes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Searsport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Searsport</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectWahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectWahsumkik</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MackPoint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MackPoint</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wahsumkik" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wahsumkik</span></a><br><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/ProtectTheDunes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheDunes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GovernorJanetMills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GovernorJanetMills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WabanakiAlliance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WabanakiAlliance</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CulturalGenocide" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CulturalGenocide</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalRacism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalRacism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotNation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotNation</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Passamaquoddy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Passamaquoddy</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/CorporateColonialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CorporateColonialism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wassumkeag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wassumkeag</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WednesdaysForWildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WednesdaysForWildlife</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>Groups are working to protect trees — and traditions — from the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EmeraldAshBorer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EmeraldAshBorer</span></a> </p><p> By Carol Bousquet<br>Published October 10, 2023</p><p>"John Daigle, a citizen of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PenobscotNation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PenobscotNation</span></a> and Forest Resources Professor at UMaine, says his grandparents' baskets provided income for the family and a way to connect one generation of Wabanaki to the next.</p><p>"'When I interacted more with basket makers and harvesters I gained a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of brown ash, in terms of its ties to one of the creation stories of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wabanaki" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wabanaki</span></a> people, of all four tribes in Maine,' Daigle said.</p><p>"In addition to seed collection and propagation, there are other efforts underway to stop the march of the emerald ash borer, which was identified last year in Bridgton. That's one location where a non-native wasp that preys on the beetle is being introduced.</p><p>"Maggie Lynn, Development and Outreach Manager at Loon Echo Land Trust, says Bridgton is one of a handful of sites across the state where the wasps, native to Asia and reared at a Midwest facility, are being released.</p><p>"'We've been releasing them all summer and will again next year... the state will take some trees to see if the wasps are still there and it's working,' she said."</p><p>Read more: <a href="https://www.mainepublic.org/news/2023-10-10/groups-are-working-to-protect-trees-and-traditions-from-the-emerald-ash-borer" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">mainepublic.org/news/2023-10-1</span><span class="invisible">0/groups-are-working-to-protect-trees-and-traditions-from-the-emerald-ash-borer</span></a></p><p><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/AshTrees" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AshTrees</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectTheSacred" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheSacred</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WabanakiConfederacy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WabanakiConfederacy</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/InvasiveSpecies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>InvasiveSpecies</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>A bunch of us showed up to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveSmilingHillFarm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveSmilingHillFarm</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectRedBrook" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectRedBrook</span></a>!<br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveSmilingHill" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveSmilingHill</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamConnector" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamConnector</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GorhamSpur" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GorhamSpur</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/MaineTurnpikeAuthority" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineTurnpikeAuthority</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RapidTransit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RapidTransit</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LightRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LightRail</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SaveTheFarms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaveTheFarms</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtectTheForest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheForest</span></a></p>
Greta Thunberg<p>Climate strike week 283. <a href="https://mastodon.nu/tags/FridaysForFuture" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FridaysForFuture</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nu/tags/ForestsAreNotRenewable" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ForestsAreNotRenewable</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nu/tags/ClimateStrike" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateStrike</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nu/tags/ProtectTheForest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtectTheForest</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nu/tags/StopExpansionStartRestoration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>StopExpansionStartRestoration</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nu/tags/RestoreNature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RestoreNature</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>The people of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Ecuador" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Ecuador</span></a> just made <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateJustice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateJustice</span></a> history. The world can follow</p><p>Voters won a huge battle with the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OilIndustry" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OilIndustry</span></a> – proving that we can’t save the planet without robust democracy</p><p>by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/StevenDonziger" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>StevenDonziger</span></a>, August 31, 2023</p><p>"Days ago, voters in Ecuador approved a total ban on oil drilling in protected land in the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Amazon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Amazon</span></a>, a 2.5m-acre tract in the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Yasun%C3%AD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Yasuní</span></a> national park that might be the world’s most important <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/biodiversity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>biodiversity</span></a> hotspot. The area is a Unesco-designated biosphere reserve and home to two non-contacted <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Indigenous" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Indigenous</span></a> groups. This could be a major step forward for the entire global climate justice movement in ways that are not yet apparent.</p><p>"This vote is important not only for Ecuador and for the Indigenous peoples in the Yasuní, who now have hope of living in peace in perpetuity. It is also a potential model for how we can use the democratic process around the world to help slow or even stop the expansion of fossil fuels to the benefit of billions of people.</p><p>"The Yasuní referendum proves that real democracy that respects the popular will can be a powerful tool for transitioning to a sustainable future. Ecuador’s state oil company, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Petroecuador" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Petroecuador</span></a>, had been producing nearly 60,000 barrels a day in the Yasuní. It now must figure out how to dismantle its entire operation and go home. When in history has a popular vote ever forced an oil company to cease active drilling? Never.</p><p>"The Yasuní vote was not the result of a business decision made in a boardroom or government office. It was the product of two decades of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/grassroots" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>grassroots</span></a> organizing by citizens and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/activists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>activists</span></a> like you and me. I know because I have been to Ecuador more than 250 times to work on a historic pollution case against <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Chevron" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Chevron</span></a> on behalf of the Indigenous people there. Many of the same Indigenous leaders and activists who helped fight Chevron organized the Yasuní vote.</p><p>"At the same time, the vote underscores how important it is to protect our increasingly fragile democracy. Without a robust democracy that allows citizens to place issues of critical importance on the ballot without the intermediation of elites, the Yasuní referendum never would have happened.</p><p>"The flipside is that powerful <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OilAndGas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OilAndGas</span></a> companies understand the threat a real citizen-based democracy poses to their power. They fear a society where citizens can put referendums on the ballot without the approval of business leaders. Those of us in the climate movement often can’t even stop to focus on the connection between democracy and climate justice because we’re so focused on dealing with the immediate crises taking place before our eyes, such as the Maui fire.</p><p>"In the United States, it is not broadly known that the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FossilFuel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FossilFuel</span></a> industry quietly funds a national lobbying campaign that has introduced draconian <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/antiprotest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>antiprotest</span></a> bills in at least 18 states. These laws threaten anyone <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/protesting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>protesting</span></a> at an oil or gas facility with huge fines and serious prison sentences; some states even impose criminal liabilities on non-profit advocacy groups that support the protesters. These are really laws of intimidation designed to stop protest before it happens. And they are also manifesting in other countries including <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Australia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Australia</span></a>, the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/UnitedKingdom" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>UnitedKingdom</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Germany" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Germany</span></a>.</p><p>"As a result, many Americans who have committed <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/peaceful" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>peaceful</span></a> acts of non-violent <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CivilDisobedience" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CivilDisobedience</span></a> – central to the birth of our country and a cornerstone of our political tradition – now face decades in prison. In Atlanta, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Georgia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Georgia</span></a>, 42 people have been charged by prosecutors with 'domestic terrorism' for trying to save the city’s last green canopy in the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WeelauneeForest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WeelauneeForest</span></a>. Local police are trying to raze part of the forest to build a military-style police training academy, colloquially called “<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CopCity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CopCity</span></a>”, that already resulted in the first police killing of a climate activist in US history. (The police have said that the activist, Manuel Paez <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Ter%C3%A1n" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Terán</span></a>, was used a weapon; activists dispute that claim.)</p><p>"The Atlanta cases represent a frightening escalation of attacks on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FreeSpeech" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FreeSpeech</span></a> and protest in the US. None of those charged – whom authorities accused mainly of vandalism and arson – committed a direct act of violence against another person. Nobody was injured other than the activist shot and killed by police while sitting in the forest.</p><p>"That this is happening in a city considered to be one of the cradles of the American civil rights movement shows just how entwined corporate and police power have become in their efforts to erode democratic rights.</p><p>"The prosecutions in Georgia are also occurring in a broader context where the right to vote has been seriously impaired. Voter suppression is now a regular feature in many US states, with ludicrous laws being passed to throw out votes. In this short century, two presidents have taken office in the US who did not win the popular vote. Votes are constantly thrown out for the thinnest of reasons, as journalists such as Greg Palast have meticulously documented.</p><p>On top of these threats to democracy at the state level, the US <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/supremecourt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>supremecourt</span></a> and its unelected, mostly <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FarRight" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FarRight</span></a> justices are weakening both our democracy and its ability to regulate the fossil fuel industry. The court has consistently approved measures like voter ID laws and felon disenfranchisement that make it more difficult for historically marginalized groups to vote. It has also, of late, decided its role is to strike down popular legislation, so who knows what they’d do to a popularly won ban on oil drilling.</p><p>"I am an <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalJustice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalJustice</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HumanRights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HumanRights</span></a> lawyer, but one reason I spend significant time focused on issues of democracy is because I simply cannot do my work if our political system does not allow the political space to advocate freely. After I helped Indigenous peoples win a major pollution case in Ecuador, I was detained for almost three years in the US after being targeted with the nation’s first-ever corporate prosecution. My own case is a reminder that the normal rules of democracy can easily be suspended when entrenched economic interests face a serious enough threat to their bottom line.</p><p>"As I write this, a heat dome in the US sits over the entire midwest and is affecting 100 million people. Fires have destroyed millions of acres of land. A tropical storm just smacked southern California for the first time, and the historic town of Lahaina in Hawaii burned to the ground with hundreds of people still unaccounted for. In the meantime, the oil industry is reporting record profits, creating enormous incentives for a small group of powerful shareholders to maintain their power by shrinking our democratic space.</p><p>What the referendum in Ecuador teaches us is that democratic processes when coupled with strong grassroots organizing can produce startlingly effective results. Taking a cue from our friends in that brave country, the next major move for the climate justice movement could be to launch a national campaign to put the simple question presented in Ecuador before the American people in every state that allows citizens to place their own questions on the ballot. The question is whether we can vote to end the destruction of our planet by the burning of fossil fuels.</p><p>"It is clear we cannot trust either of the two major US political parties – both of which mostly support fossil fuel expansion – to adequately address this crisis. We simply cannot save the planet without first protecting and strengthening our democracy."</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/31/ecuador-oil-drilling-ban-climate-solution?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KbDCZFul0YHH-aJr2OOM78_6qWy0yjw-4jadswGnC7C2P8UVCkkUPQVfzIz3k4tfcZUfA" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">theguardian.com/commentisfree/</span><span class="invisible">2023/aug/31/ecuador-oil-drilling-ban-climate-solution?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KbDCZFul0YHH-aJr2OOM78_6qWy0yjw-4jadswGnC7C2P8UVCkkUPQVfzIz3k4tfcZUfA</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OilAndGasIndustry" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OilAndGasIndustry</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateCrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateCrisis</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/StopCopCity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>StopCopCity</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/FreeDonziger" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FreeDonziger</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PardonDonziger" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PardonDonziger</span></a></p>
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