Windmills Were the Topic with the Man on the Beach at Smith Point
News of Massachusetts beaches closed due to the debris from a collapsed wind turbine blade didn’t sit well with the beachgoers at Smith Point Park. Here’s what they had to say:
“The beach means so much to me. I’ve been coming here since l was a kid. I would hate to see it closed for any reason.”—Dang Hassan, Brookhaven.
“The problem with windmills is they don’t make enough power for the cost. It’s not worth the risk of raising rates and possibly closing our beaches. This is purely a political move. It’s a move by the Democrats to make a small part of their base happy.”—John Roberts, Port Jefferson
“This is our beach, and we only have a small window every year to enjoy it. We need to keep it open. There’s a big roof on the Smith Point pavilion. Why don’t they put solar panels up there to make energy?”— Hazel Roberts, Port Jefferson
“I wouldn’t be happy if they ever closed the beach, especially from windmills.”—Mark Delia, Shirley
“It wouldn’t be a good thing to close the beach, that’s for sure. We come here often, and l would not like to see it closed. Marilyn Oliveri, Manorville
“The whales are out there; the dolphins are out there; the fish—this is their world. They’re going to disturb the wildlife, for what? We’re on an island, it’s not that big. We can’t afford to lose any of our beaches. We don’t need power like that.”—Ted Cigna, Shoreham