on Long Island, especially for residents of Nassau County. Its 10 miles of beaches are the most popular summer recreational area for the New York metropolitan area. Growing up in Nassau County, we went to the beach at least once a summer; 8th graders in my school district had a graduation trip to Jones Beach for the day. The Bethpage Federal Credit Union funds the New York Air Show every Memorial Day, which everyone has attended at least once in their lives; over 45,000 spectators crowd onto the beaches, for hours beforehand, to s
ee the show. The water is great for swimming, there are two miles of boardwalk with a mini-golf course, volleyball courts, restaurants, playground, and the Jones Beach Water Tower, known as "The Pencil." There is also the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, an outdoor arena and concert venue. Recently there has been a lot of talk about offshore wind turbines a mile off of Jones Beach in the Atlantic Ocean. Almost a year ago, the Cape Winds Associate LLC won a permit for the nation's first offshore wind farm. The US Department of the Interior passed issued guidelines for le
asing offshore wind development, and President Obama has pledged to double renewable energy production in three years. Although by looking at offshore wind developments in Europe has showed no detrimental effects on the sea floor, wouldn't interfere with shipping lines, and that sounds from the turbines are too low in frequency to disturb most marine species.
It's not hard to fathom that a lot of Long Islanders are now showing opposition to the "threat" of wind turbines off of Jones Beach. The Long Island Power A
uthority, LIPA, also seems to be backing the people opposed, claiming that the proposed $700 million project is too expensive, and that modes of energy currently used are cheaper. LIPA Chairman Kevin Law stated, "While I'm a supporter of renewable energy, I've decided this project doesn't make any economic sense..." Although they acknowledge that CO2 emissions will be reduced by 80%, they can't look past the costs.
While most Long Islanders probably don't find wind turbines to be beautiful in the landscape as I do, they are most likely looking at them as a nuisance aesthetically, not even thinking economically at first. It's a pseudo form of NIMBYism, because they think that th
e beach is theirs, and no one wants their favorite beach and summer spot messed with. I have heard arguments from people not wanting to see the turbines in general, saying they will disrupt the view of the ocean and its appeal, to people fearing it will interfere with the Air Show on Memorial Day. The Save Jones Beach Ad Hoc Committee, a non-profit group of LIPA customers and LI taxpayers, has been created and published a website with news articles related to the issue, what they consider "startling" facts about the proposed project and posting meeting schedules for enthusiasts to attend.
Because of the economy, a lot of families are going to the beach for cheaper recreation,
after they were already shocked with a $1.6 million state parks budget cut. Most Long Islanders
seem to be in the mindset that the thought of wind turbines is just adding insult to injury. I stand
by the project to create offshore wind turbines. The congestion on Long Island causes enough
pollutant emissions, and there's nothing but benefit from possibly reducing those emissions by
80%. I can understand where people come from, not wanting to see turbines off of their beach,
but I don't think these people fully understand the benefit of renewable energy resources, because
all they see is money and the quickest fix. It seems more like a cultural issue, a mindset, that is going to be really hard to change. Nassau County is already in the top 5 counties that have the
highest taxes, so there is no way taxpayers are going to want to have them increased so that
turbines they don't want can be built, and for their LIPA bills to change. Long Islanders who
support the project need to come up with ways to spread environmental awareness and find a
way to gain extra support from the residents of Long Island.
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