Dear Editor:

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s website, a Community Benefits Agreement (“CBA”) “is signed by a community benefits group and a developer, outlining a broad range of community benefits the developer agrees to provide, in return for community support of the project.”

There is currently no requirement for New England Aqua Ventus (“NEAV”) to have a CBA with Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor for its Monhegan project.

A tenacious and determined group of local citizens, the Boothbay Region Offshore Wind Community Benefits Group, has worked very hard to get NEAV to agree to do anything with Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor in return for running the power line from Bigelow Laboratories’ campus to the current underground utility easements down to the CMP substation at the corner of Routes 27 and 96. The Group has been successful in that NEAV has agreed to a community benefit and Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor selectboards are being asked to consider how to use these funds.

The Community Benefits Group deserves our gratitude. Their involvement in this topic doesn’t mean they support the Monhegan project but are striving to get something tangible for the community in exchange for having no say in the decision to run this power onto our peninsula.

We face a very difficult decision. By definition, accepting the CBA means we support the project.

Our fishermen are facing inconceivable Right Whale risk reduction measures that will eliminate the industry. Offshore windmills receive Incidental Take Authorizations to kill a certain number of marine mammals (including Right Whales) without penalty. Where is the logic? How is this fair to our fishing industry?

NEAV has signaled that one million dollars would be the budget for their CBA with Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor. Whether or not we sign a CBA and, if we do sign, how the funds are spent, should be put to the voters of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. I will continue to advocate that any CBA funds go to the Maine Lobstermen’s Association Legal Defense Fund.

Patty Minerich

Boothbay Harbor