Advocacy
For 40 years, Islesboro Islands Trust has spearheaded environmental advocacy in Penobscot Bay and the Penobscot Bay watershed by working with a network of regional organizations.
Current Advocacy Efforts
Save Sears Island - Off-shore Wind Port
The state of Maine is considering using 100 acres or more on the western shore of Sears Island as the site where enormous floating wind turbines will be built and then deployed to the Gulf of Maine as part of Maine’s renewable energy plan. We agree with the urgent need to develop new sources of renewable energy, but not with the sacrifice of an ecological and recreational treasure on the Maine coast, whose forests and marine systems already store carbon. We support using Mack Point as the location to build and launch floating wind turbines.
Op-Ed: With Sears Island decision, state goes back on its word.
Click the image below to learn more
Nordic Aquafarms
Islesboro Islands Trust (IIT) began wary investigation into the Nordic Aquafarms (Belfast) and Whole Oceans (Bucksport) land-based salmon aquaculture proposals early in 2018. The proposed land-based fish farm would dump effluent from the operation into Penobscot Bay, polluting the water and threatening native ecosystems. In 2023, Nordic Aquafarms had two of their leases rescinded and permits revoked in response to challenges from local citizens. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that existing conservation easements governing the intertidal zone are in conflict with Nordic Aquafarms plan to route pipes for intake and effluent discharge through the area. This is an ongoing situation, as Nordic Aquafarms plans to appeal the decision.
Court deals another blow to proposed Belfast Fish Farm
Two Nordic Aquafarms leases rescinded for proposed land-based fish farm in Belfast
Maine DEP suspends two Nordic Aquafarms’ licenses for the Belfast land-based fish farm
A History of Regional Environmental Advocacy
Sears Island Cargo Port
IIT spearheaded a successful partnership with the Sierra Club of Maine, the Conservation Law Foundation and other Maine environmental organizations and stopped the construction of a major cargo port on Sears Island between 1989 and 1996.
1990s Sears Island Port Struggle
Sears Island LNG Terminal
In 2004, IIT learned of secret state negotiations to use Sears Island for an LNG terminal and energized efforts to expose and then eliminate that threat. Subsequently, IIT and others permanently protected approximately 600 acres of Sears Island for education, recreation and public access uses.
Second plan for liquified natural gas facility surfaces
Leucadia Housing Development at Northeast Point
Consistent with IIT’s mission and its history of championing local planning and thoughtful land use regulation, we actively opposed the environmentally suspect components of Leucadia’s development of Northeast point, Islesboro. Chief concerns revolved around adverse impacts to wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, public scenic value and most especially groundwater. The Leucadia development was abandoned in 2008 due to the efforts of IIT.
Islesboro debates the Northeast Point subdivision
Searsport Propane Terminal
In 2012 and 2013, IIT worked with local grassroots groups to prevent DCP Midstream Partners, owned by Conoco-Philips, from building what would have been the largest propane terminal on the east coast.
Searsport Liquified Propane Gas Terminal Fact Sheet
Controversial $40 million Searsport plan tanks
Penobscot Bay Dredging
IIT, local lobstermen and others thwarted a proposal by the Maine Department of Transportation and the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge nearly one million cubic yards of sediment, some contaminated with heavy metals and carcinogens, and dispose of it just off Islesboro’s northwest shore between 2013 and 2014.
Watershed Partnerships
The Penobscot Bay Land Trust Alliance, a very loose coalition of eleven land trusts in the region, began in 1991 when IIT and the Island Heritage Trust of Deer Isle called these like-minded groups together. In 1992 IIT joined with several governmental and nongovernmental organizations to form the Penobscot Bay Network, which went on to sponsor three regional conferences and other regional initiatives. In 2016, IIT led fifteen organizations in planning and presenting the Penobscot Watershed Conference that spawned the Penobscot Bay Coalition. IIT provided support for an ecosystem-wide analysis called the Fresh and Salt Water Fisheries Research Project. IIT regularly provides support to the Friends of Sears Island. We continue to support and explore regional conservation and environmental education efforts. The Environmental Priorities Coalition brings environmental organizations across Maine to discuss and engage with important social and political aspects of ecology, with a focus on the Maine legislature. IIT is a supporting member.
Island Partnerships
IIT supports Islesboro municipal efforts that have a conservation or environmental component. Beginning in 1985 with a grant to the Town of Islesboro for help with its comprehensive plan, IIT helped fund or otherwise supported shellfish, groundwater protection, GIS and additional municipal planning. Working with the Islesboro Harbor Committee, IIT purchased Warren’s Landing for public access to the shore. IIT helped organize the Islesboro Health Fair and supported the Historical Society’s climate change event. IIT sponsors the Islesboro Energy Team and works with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) local food program through our gardens at Blueberry Hill Preserve.
