Opinion: East Hampton Town Board To Discuss Wind Farms

It's as simple as this: A $700 million plus project to create wind farms offshore of East Hampton Town will be discussed with perhaps actions taking place to green light aspects of the proposal on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at East Hampton Town Hall.

Some folks are concerned, like my friend, Anthony Sosinski of Montauk, who believes it is important for as many town folks to go to the meeting and learn as much as they can about this project.

"I don't know how to get it out to the town people," he said, asking for my help.

Anthony knows I like him. I have a special affinity for the ocean and the waters around East Hampton Town. We both fear that the wind farm, while it may have some great benefits, may also do some unfixable harms to the ocean floor ecosystem.

Lots of money is being spent to get this project moving forward. Reports of Massachusetts residents successfully fighting the wind farms off Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard have posed some interesting points that need to perhaps be examined in more detail by the town before heading down the slippery slope of off shore harvesting of energy needs.

First wind farms, then once the sites are granted to the wind farm conglomerate, perhaps off shore drilling platforms will come next.

I don't ask anyone to decide one way or another on the ocean wind farm issue, but only to attend the meeting and learn firsthand the facts, not just the ones huge public relation firms are being well paid to disseminate.

This may be the wave of the future or it can a huge mistake.

Please attend and know the facts. Hear proponents and opponents speak. Hear what your neighbors think; be informed. Don't end up reading about it three weeks later.

The meeting is slated for Tuesday, April 3, at 10 a.m. in East Hampton Town Hall.

Photo courtesy Anthony Sosinski.

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