Meeting Sears Island Initiative’s challenges

We write to correct inaccuracies regarding Sears Island that were presented in a column by Lorin Hollander, “An inconvenient truth of Baldacci administration” (BDN, Aug. 5-6). Hollander [a member of the Sears Island Planning Initiative Steering Committee] claims the Baldacci administration and Maine Department of Transportation are “presently spearheading” the development of Sears Island as a cargo part.

This is not correct.

Gov. John Baldacci has convened a Sears Island Planning Initiative with a goal “to develop consensus recommendations for future land use activities for Sears Island.” The recommendations will be submitted to the governor, the Transportation Committee of the Maine Legislature and the municipality of Searsport. Please view the Web site at: http://www.state.me.us/doc/initiatives/SearsIsland/SearsIsland.shtml

A 45-person steering committee made up of a diverse array of local, regional and statewide interests has met three times. There has also been an “open space” public participation event devoted to broad citizen involvement. The steering committee is gathering factual information, learning about different options for the future of the island and is proceeding with the objective of reaching consensus by this coming winter. This process is open, transparent and is geared to producing comprehensive, well-reasoned and sound recommendations.

The governor has communicated directly to the steering committee and has stated “Rest assured that no one in my Administration will take any action regarding Sears Island until your group has had the opportunity to develop your recommendations.” All state agencies, including the Department of Transportation, are abiding by his directive.

Specifically, there are no actions underway to spearhead heavy industrial development of Sears Island. The governor underscored his commitment to the steering committee by stating that he will be guided by their consensus recommendations – “If you do your part, I pledge to do mine.”

In his column, Hollander cast aspersions on the efforts of Gov. Baldacci and his administration regarding global warming. The governor has been a leader in the creation and signing of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the seven northeast states, and made Maine state government a leader by example in its own energy practices. The state promotes energy conservation, energy efficiency, and increased use of renewable energy.

Other responses of the governor to concerns over global warming, energy independence, and rising energy prices include: the goal of increasing renewable power in Maine by 10 percent over the next 10 years; a rebate program for homeowners who install solar electric and solar thermal systems; a bio-diesel fuel production tax credit; and, natural gas conservation programs

Without a doubt the Sears Island Initiative is challenging, and places great demands on the many different interests that are represented on the steering committee. Many members are new to this type of stakeholder endeavor. Many have strongly held views. And yet, each member of the steering committee has committed to ground rules that guide this process. The ground rules require good faith, civil discussion of these complex issues in a way that promotes dialogue and is respectful of one another.

The accusatory, inflammatory tone of Hollander’s op-ed violates the ground rules, in which all stakeholders agreed to refrain from characterizing others’ positions in the media. It also undermines the enormous potential of this process to create – for the first time in recent memory – true consensus recommendations for the future of Sears Island.

The people of Maine deserve no less.

This commentary was written by Sue Inches, deputy director of the State Planning Office and co-host of Sears Island Planning Initiative; Karin Tilberg, deputy commissioner of the Department of Conservation and co-host of the Sears Island Planning Initiative; and Jonathan Reitman, Esq., the facilitator of the Sears Island Planning Initiative.