Letters

Common GroundI read with interest Michael Wright’s article about Danish wind farm developer Ørsted’s partnering with a group of Montauk fishermen to secure local dock space for their offshore wind turbine maintenance vessels [“Ørsted To Partner With Commercial Fishing Dock In Montauk For Onshore Operations Base,” 27east.com, September 25]. This is an important and welcome development.

There were some in our community who believed that fishermen and wind farm developers could never find common ground (or water!). These prominent local commercial fishermen have proved that sentiment wrong. These folks, whose livelihoods depend on productive fishing grounds, surely recognize the threat that the climate crisis poses to their industry and to the world’s oceans.

I have been proud of my town for adopting aggressive, audacious renewable energy goals that have inspired towns all over the country to follow suit. I am now so proud of our local fishermen who recognize that urgent action is required to combat the threat of climate change. I thank them for affirming that offshore wind is a necessary component in a renewable energy strategy for our region.

The sooner all stakeholders can find ways to work together, the better.

Let’s get this done!

Jessica JamesMontauk