The Campaign to Protect Sears Island / wahsumkik and Upstream Watch are cohosting a short presentation followed by a community conversation about the status of the wind port and the conservation effort, Feb. 25.  Presenters include Searsport residents and Campaign volunteers David Italiaander and Chris Buchanan, and Jill Howell, executive director of Upstream Watch, which is based in Belfast.

The event begins at 7 p.m., at Mermaid Plaza, 1 E Main Street Searsport. 

"We believe that it is in the best interest of local and regional residents, as well as the entire population at risk of climate catastrophe, to put all of Sears Island into permanent conservation, and ensure access is always free to the public," according to a news release.

Environmental, social, and economic reasons will be highlighted, the release said, including:

"• Sears Island is not needed to develop the research array that will move Maine's climate goals forward.

"• After spending nearly $6 million taxpayer dollars since 2020 on this latest project, the Mills administration has failed repeatedly to attain federal money needed to develop a wind port on the transportation parcel on Sears Island.

 "• This proposal and all previous development proposals for the Island have been deeply unpopular among communities and political parties.

 "• It is an undisputed fact that conservation of mature and unique ecosystems is the best way to mitigate climate disaster."