Offshore wind is necessary for the planet and presents a wonderful economic opportunity for Maine. Why use Sears Island over the already environmentally degraded Mack Point, an ideal location particularly with Sprague Energy willing to offer the site?

No one wants to turn Maine’s largest connected, undeveloped island into an industrial site, but another reason, overlooked in the press, is that Sears represents a concentration point for migratory songbirds. On a single morning at sunrise thousands may fly northward across the causeway. Warblers and other at-risk species, which migrate nocturnally, funnel in from Penobscot Bay to make landfall on Sears before continuing to correct their courses. They fly at high altitude above hazards but as dawn approaches they descend to the trees. The remarkable concentration at Sears Island is seen in few other places. High structures kill millions of migrating birds, particularly when illuminated. These migrants face countless man-made problems which have already reduced populations by several billion. A Sears Island wind terminal is a disaster for migrants nesting throughout Maine and across the forests of Canada.

The state and Gov. Mills support Sears to save money. Dredging is also cited as to why Sears is preferable over Mack Point but it is done routinely without lasting environmental impact. Once Sears is irrevocably modified it is gone for good. The loss to the community is tragic, even disregarding the impact on birds. Saving this gem is worth any extra cost because what we will lose is irreplaceable.

Tom Aversa
Unity