BELFAST, Maine — Belfast city councilors did not hold back this week in sharing their frustrations about the past actions of the Maine chapter of the Sierra Club regarding a controversial land-based salmon farm that city officials have whole-heartedly supported.
But after expressing their concerns at their Tuesday meeting, councilors voted unanimously — if a tad warily — to support a new community resilience partnership with the non-profit environmental group.
The Belfast Climate Crisis Committee asked councilors to consider the agreement, which will make the city eligible for community action grants to reduce carbon emissions, transition to clean energy and become more resilient to extreme weather and sea level rise from climate change.
“I think the benefits that can be accrued through this partnership far outweigh any prior bad tastes in our mouth,” Councilor Mary Mortier said. “I think it would be cutting off our nose to spite our face if we did not strongly consider voting to support this partnership.”
But other councilors made sure they got on the record just how bad things got between the City Council and the Sierra Club. The trouble dates back to 2019, when the executive committee of the Maine chapter of the Sierra Club unanimously voted to oppose construction of Nordic Aquafarms in Belfast.
Alice Elliott, the former chapter director, said back then that the proposed salmon farm threatened the health of the lobster fishery and posed a “significant and unreasonable risk” to the environment and economy of Penobscot Bay.
The chapter’s stance didn’t sit well with some in Belfast, including Zafra Whitcomb, who spoke in the public comment portion of the council meeting.
“I’ve been a long time supporter of the Sierra Club, but I was extremely dismayed when they made some misleading and misinformed comments regarding the Nordic Aquafarms project,” he said. “And I don’t want to necessarily let that stand in the way of a partnership … but I find it very concerning. And I wanted to make sure that folks are aware of who they’re getting in bed with.”
Councilor Mike Hurley said that some of the most outspoken opponents of the salmon farm project have been members of the executive committee of the Maine chapter of the Sierra Club. Those include Kim Ervin Tucker, a Lincolnville attorney who has represented many of the plaintiffs suing Nordic Aquafarms in various civil court cases and who was on the executive committee in 2019.
“Are we nervous? Yeah, I’m nervous,” he said of a future collaboration with the Sierra Club. “We have seen no tactic go unused. No slur unspoken. No character assassination not specified in this really terrible community discussion we’ve had. It’s not very encouraging.”
Ania Wright, an employee of the Maine chapter of the Sierra Club, explained details of the proposed partnership to councilors and acknowledged their concerns.
“I’m familiar with the tension that the club’s position caused,” she said, adding that she would be happy to talk more with them about that. “I don’t see that those differing views will create a conflict. We simply see this as a great opportunity to support the city of Belfast and the people.”
Councilors said that despite the past history, they were willing to extend an olive branch and work with the Sierra Club.
“I will back the chance to do this, but with a little reservation,” Councilor Paul Dean said. “I’m going to go in with my eyes wide open.”
Councilor Neal Harkness said that the partnership could be a move toward healing the rifts in the community.
“I think we need to be open to reconciliation and moving forward toward mutual interests where it can be done,” he said. “It’s time to move forward, to quit looking back … I think being able to work with the Sierra Club here on this mutually beneficial program is a good place to start.”