Trump Protected Massachusetts From Vineyard Wind [OPINION]

One of the dumbest ideas in modern times is to build a wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts rather than to continue to invest in natural gas, nuclear, and clean coal-fired energy generation. Wind power is untested, unreliable, and unaffordable. The windmills are unsightly and pose a threat to navigation and whale migration.

Joe Biden announced final approval on Tuesday for the nation's first permitted commercial-scale wind farm to be located some 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard and southwest of Nantucket Island. The State House News Service reports, "the 800-megawatt project's approval allows up to 84 turbines with minimum spacing of one nautical mile between the turbines."

Vineyard Wind is owned by the Denmark-based Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables out of Portland, Oregon. Parts for the windmills will be manufactured in China. The project is expected to generate enough energy to power 400,000 homes. There are 6.8 million people in Massachusetts.

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Vineyard Wind has already received approval to begin the construction of windmills in the waters off the island. Mayflower Wind hopes to win federal approval to do so soon.

President Trump understood the threat that Vineyard Wind poses to the commercial fishing industry, and his administration did not issue an approval of the project. Just less than four months in office, Biden gave the project the green light. Remember, it was the Obama-Biden Administration that declared a portion of the fishing grounds off the New England coastline a national monument to prevent fishing. Trump reversed that decision upon taking office.

Trump responded to Biden's approval of the Vineyard Wind project with a statement: "Wind is an incredibly expensive form of energy that kills birds, affects the sea, ruins the landscape, and creates disasters for navigation. Liberals love it, but they can't explain why. In any event, Martha's Vineyard, an absolutely wonderful place, will never be the same. Good Luck!" Trump continued, "Martha's Vineyard will never be the same."

Good luck to Martha's Vineyard, and good luck to the New Bedford fishing fleet. Your government is once again conspiring against you.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.