Successful Event Showcases Sprague’s Vision for Maine’s Offshore Wind Future
On June 11, Sprague Energy hosted an Open House, including three tours at our Mack Point Terminal in Searsport, Maine, to show the site for our alternate plan for supporting Maine’s offshore wind initiative. The Open House brought together of 75 members of the community, local, state, national government officials, as well as environmental groups, other stakeholders and media, all eager to see firsthand how our proposal aligns with Maine’s energy and environmental goals.
A Beautiful Day Hosting Over 75 Members of the Community, Government Officials and Media
On a beautiful sunny day, our guests were hosted by Dave Glendon, our CEO, and Jim Therriault, our VP, Materials Handling for 45 minute tours. They not only saw our facility in operation, including the loading of wind turbine blades for our existing land based wind projects, but also, the actual layout for the facility that would be functional for the offshore wind initiative. At each stop, guests asked questions of our team, and we were happy to engage in energetic dialogues on questions ranging from dredging to overall environmental impacts.
Our group included guests from Bluejacket Shipcrafters, Campaign to Protect Sears Island, Friends of Sears Island, GAC Chemical, Isleboro Islands Trust, Maine Audubon, Maine Climate Action Now, Maine Labor Climate Council and the Sierra Club. We were also happy to host attendees from the office of Rep. Jared Golden, Senator Angus King, Senator Susan Collins, the town of Searsport, Senator Chip Curry, Representative Jan Doge and Representative Holly Eaton. Members of the media included: Counterpunch.org, Maine Public Radio, Penobscot Bay Pilot, Spectrum Local News, WERU-FM Community Radio, WABC TV, News Center Maine and WVII TV.
Thoughts on the Day
Our events went off without a hiccup, including the fact that the usual strong afternoon breezes from Penobscot Bay did not materialize. We are most thankful for everyone that took the time to join us last week and were happy to hear guests thought tour was informative and well run, presenting the Sprague Energy Alternative in a positive light. The majority of the attendees had not visited this facility previously and were impressed at its existing capabilities. Seeing Mack Point operational with turbine blades being moved and stacked provided a good sense as to why our proposal makes sense. And hats off to Jim, who won kudos for his straightforward approach as well as the visuals that were clear and easy to comprehend. Lastly, our guests appreciated our transparency.
The Open House at Mack Point Terminal successfully demonstrated the tangible benefits of Sprague Energy’s proposal. By prioritizing innovation, efficiency, and environmental stewardship, we are confident that Mack Point is a superior solution for Maine’s offshore wind industry. We urge the State of Maine to reconsider its decision and fully analyze the cost and benefits of the Sprague alternative design. Together, we can achieve renewable energy targets while preserving our coastal ecosystems and propel Maine towards a sustainable energy future.
To learn more about our alternative, lower-impact offshore wind plan, please visit www.spragueenergy.com/mack-point/.