Letters

Hell hath no fury like a hamlet scorned. “Scorned” is defined as being shown disdain or derision. That happened in abundance at last week’s Town Board meeting regarding battery energy storage systems, and it was directed at the people of Hampton Bays. This attitude has been duly noted by us.

We learned that the town’s Sustainability Committee chair advised members that supporters were needed at the meeting. They were told to call a paid town consultant to be briefed on talking points. Our taxes being used to help stack the deck against us. Imagine.

Hampton Bays is only 9 percent of the land in the town. Yet two BESS facilities have been proposed in the entire town — both in our hamlet. Coincidence or contempt? Again to the dictionary: “Contempt: a lack of respect or reverence for something.” Read on. I assure you that I am not being hysterical.

Dieter von Lehsten of the same Sustainable Committee spoke and said the people of Hampton Bays are concerned about a new technology “they don’t really understand,” and that “it’s hard to fault them for filling the void from what they read on social media.” Yes, he really said that.

Then, not to be outdone, Lynn Arthur of the same committee, speaking as an individual, testified that “university professors tell their students that Wikipedia is not acceptable as a source for research.” Another jab.

Several mentioned “rigorous testing” without mentioning that the applicant’s own experts pretty much have said at meetings they are unable to do this on a large scale. We hear terms like “indications are.” I don’t think most university professors would accept that as definitive.

One minute it’s called new or developing technology, and the next it’s called proven. But we Baymen are somehow to blame for calling out these and other contradictions or complaining that some answers are patently wrong and/or contradict each other. We ask questions and do not get straight answers. Just talked down to.

By the way, to show we are not hysterical ignoramuses, our ad hoc group of Hampton Bays residents includes an environmental engineer, specializing in sound pollution; a chemist studying battery composition; an environmental attorney; a retired FDNY officer; a forensic accountant formerly employed by a utility; and a former science museum president. Also questioning the site was an engineer who actually consulted on a BESS installation and is a town resident.

Hampton Bays residents are sick of the aspersions being cast upon us. We are not ignorant people frightened into hysteria. As your editor, Joe Shaw, said recently, “A lot of misinformation is floating around.” Bet your bottom dollar. And it’s mostly coming from Town Hall.

Marion Boden

Hampton Bays