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New York’s First Offshore Wind Farm at Unexpected Hurdle

President Biden’s plans for a commendable expansion of Wind Farms and renewable energy across the U.S. need to survive the gamut of congressional bickering. The progress is being threatened by a very different obstacle from wealthy homeowners who enjoy the mesmerizing scenic views. Wainscott is a hamlet in the wealthy New York enclave of the Hamptons. He is setting for a rancorous battle over what would be the state’s first offshore wind farm.

A flurry of angry letters has escalated petitions to the local newspapers. High-powered lobbyists have been hired, and now lawsuits are being filed. Peter Van Scoyoc, East Hampton Town Supervisor, said, “It has got poisonous. We are a tight-knit community and there have been disagreements in the past, but they haven’t been personalized like they are now.” His support has been denounced in the Facebook posts and the new lawsuit.

When faced with the issue which divided this affluent coastal community, others keep silent. Jerry Mulligan, a retired lawyer in favor of it, said that a guy he plays tennis wants to stop the project. But he says that they try not to talk about it. The wind turbines themselves are not the subject of turmoil.

South Fork Wind Farm, a 15-strong cluster that would sit almost 35 miles off Montauk, the extreme eastern end tip of Long Island. The upscale tip of Long Island is a narrow landmass that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Winscott is on the Southern flank of Long Island, and so the turbines will not be visible from its beach. However, a cable connected to the Wind Farm will have to burrow underneath Hamlet’s beach and several other streets. It will also need a substation further inland.

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