Dear Editor:

I have lived in the Town of Babylon for more than 50 years; during that time I have seen many changes. The South Shore of Long Island has become overgrown and overpopulated. Developers have utilized every spare portion of land and people are building up. Many changes have been necessary but not all. Sometimes it takes years to realize we have made a mistake. I believe the Offshore Wind Proposal would be the biggest mistake we could ever imagine.

Alternative energy is a must. Every reasonable person on Long Island is aware of this fact, however we need to think before it is too late. I do not believe most people have done their homework. It is a known fact that we would need 100 percent of ideal conditions for a decent output and nature cannot guarantee perfection. Turbines consume electricity whether they are producing or not. This would subtract from the total benefit. The cost of construction for this project is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. How long would the average rate payer have to wait to see any reduction in their monthly bills. I find it hard to believe that LIPA's interests are solely with the rate payer. Mr. Kessel chastises us for wasting energy; I wonder if he's been conserving and changing his lifestyle in any way.

The environmental concerns are monumental. Forty, 40-foot wind turbines will impact and disrupt our ecosystem and destroy the aesthetic beauty of our horizon. Our valuable marine resources could be impacted forever. Do we want high voltage transmission cable running to connect the wind park to our mainland? Think about it. Wind parks can be built on land at a far more reasonable cost. No one is against alternative energy. We need to be clearly informed before we let this atrocious proposal become a reality. Hopefully we will learn by the mistakes Europe has made before it is too late.

Antoinette Maiorini, West Babylon