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Even as a staunch environmental advocate, the sight of wind turbines has not always inspired joy for me. Now, with the new proposed port on Sears Island, I find myself facing the reality of another new facility in the state.
While the development of the port could have significant impacts, which must be handled collectively and with intentional community input, we must make our decisions not based on short-term considerations, but while considering the long-term impacts of what is undoubtedly the largest fight humanity has ever faced: the climate crisis.
If we are to stave off the worst impacts of this crisis — widespread human suffering, a lobster-less Gulf of Maine, towns and cities across the globe underwater, massive forest fires, devastating floods and storms — we must be willing to make tough choices. When I consider the things this state needs most, like more affordable and reliable energy, better-paying and more jobs, clean energy solutions that prioritize community resilience, and protection from climate disasters, offshore wind is one solution that I feel addresses each and every one.
As a young person from coastal Waldoboro, with a deep love for Maine’s rugged communities and immense natural resources, my deepest and most abiding wish is that this state maintains the qualities that make it so special even in this tumultuous century. We cannot preserve the things we love most unless we are willing to accept the solutions that are best able to save us.
Riley Stevenson
Waldoboro
