Boon Island lighthouse auction

The U.S. federal government is auctioning off Maine's tallest lighthouse, located on Boon Island near one of the state's designated offshore wind test sites.

Boon Island Light Station, seen from Cape Neddick.

The Boon Island Light Station auction, conducted online through the General Services Administration's website, covers a 133-foot granite tower sited on a barren outcrop of granite 14 feet above sea level.  Built in 1855 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lighthouse will continue to serve as an unmanned navigational aid maintained by the United States Coast Guard.

In 2009, the Maine Legislature selected waters near Boon Island as one of three designated offshore wind test sites.  While the Monhegan offshore wind test site drew interest from the University of Maine-led Aqua Ventus consortium, to date, no project has publicly pursued plans to develop the Boon Island offshore wind test site.

Meanwhile, the federal government continues to sell or otherwise get rid of "surplus" property.  Two years ago, the federal government announced plans to give away two Maine lighthouses -- Boon Island and Halfway Rock -- to qualified entities willing to conserve the historic structures.  When no such transfer ensued, the General Services Administration placed both lighthouses on the auction block.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, 13 bidders had participated in the auction for the Boon Island light station, with a current high bid of $64,000.  The auction is scheduled to close midday on Thursday, although previous deadlines have been extended.