Slalom race benefits from Saturday’s rain
McKenzie Todd traversed the course in West Cornwall during the New England Slalom Series event on May 21.
Photo by Lans Christensen
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Trump’s war on offshore wind power
Sep 10, 2025
Trump has made no secret of his fondness for the fossil fuel industries, major funders of his campaigns. But his dislike of wind and solar power is less well known, hard to understand and has been growing over the years from mild disfavor to apparent hatred. Some people think this might have to do with a 2013 visit Trump took to his golf course near Aberdeen on the Scottish coast where he found a small offshore 11 turbine wind farm under construction in the bay in the middle of his view and tried, angrily but to no avail to stop it.
Referring to wind turbines during a recent cabinet meeting, Trump said “They’re ugly. They don’t work. They kill your birds. They’re bad for the environment.” (But if he were so concerned about saving birds — and wind machines are a negligible threat — why hasn’t he put protective bird-friendly glazing on his Manhattan skyscraper?)
Last month the Trump administration halted construction on Revolution Wind, a $6.2 billion wind farm off New London, Conn. The project, 80% finished, was stopped by the Trump administration with an unconvincing explanation that there were “national security concerns”.
The order was the third time the Trump administration had revoked permits or halted work on wind farms that had already received federal approval while offering little legal justification for doing so, following actions against wind projects in New York and Idaho. Legal experts say that there is little basis for blocking projects that have already received permits.
“There’s no upside for anyone to this decision,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, “the economy’s going to be hurt. Consumers are going to see prices go up.There’s massive economic waste in stalling this project that is so nearly concluded”. Katie Dykes, commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said at a news conference that if Revolution Wind was interrupted, “we will have an elevated risk of rolling blackouts impacting our region.”
Ørestad, the Danish renewable energy company behind the 65-turbine project had said it was on track to generate enough electricity for more than 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut by next spring. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut challenged the construction halt saying, “They have offered no facts to justify this lawless, reckless decision.”
Last month the Trump administration halted construction on Revolution Wind, a $6.2 billion wind farm off New London, Conn.
Union leaders responded that more than 1,200 jobs could be affected by the stopping of Revolution Wind. On September 4, Ørestad sued the Trump administration, saying the government’s move to halt the nearly finished wind farm was unlawful and “issued in bad faith”.
The Trump administration has signaled in a court filing that it next plans to rescind federal approvals for yet another wind farm, the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, which had not yet begun construction but would consist of up to 114 wind turbines off the coast of Ocean City, Md.
In April, the Interior Department suddenly ordered that work be stopped at Empire Wind, a $5 billion wind farm off the coast of Long Island that had received all necessary approvals from the Biden administration and was already being built. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed that the project’s permits had been rushed and that scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had uncovered flaws in the approval process. Finally in response to a Freedom of Information Act demand and threats of a lawsuit, the project was allowed to proceed. No “flaws in the approval process”, if any, have been made public.
Wind turbines now provide more than 10 percent of the nation’s electricity and in Iowa, it’s the largest source of electricity. Along with solar power installations, on shore wind farms can be produced more quickly than other forms of electrical power.
After decades of relatively steady demand, electricity consumption is soaring, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, the electrification of homes and transportation and an uptick in domestic manufacturing. The Trump administration’s campaign against the wind power industry is jeopardizing a growing source of energy at a time when the country is in need of additional electricity.
As part of his “Big, Beautiful Bill,” the law that President Trump signed on July 4 ending tax incentives for wind and solar projects is expected to drive up electricity bills across the U.S., with some of the sharpest increases in Republican-led states. Without tax credits, the cost of wind and solar plants will go up. Companies are likely to respond by building fewer of those projects, and those facilities that do come online will have bigger price tags. As that happens, the country is expected to generate more electricity from natural gas plants, which are more expensive than wind and solar projects.
Recently, President Trump has instructed at least six of his cabinet secretaries to get their agencies to find reasons to shut down offshore wind projects; so far no attempted justifications have worked including Robert Kennedy Jr’s suggestion that undersea cables from the turbines back to shore were devastating fish and whales.
The unjustified delays are causing significant layoffs and disinvestment which are sure to result in higher energy costs for everyone. even if the wind power industry fully recovers. Despite the obvious benefits of proceeding full speed ahead with wind, solar, and other benign forms of power, the United States is being led by President Trump’s misguided pique and irrational action.
Architect and landscape designer Mac Gordon lives in Lakeville.
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125 years ago — September 1900
Here’s a fish story that is not a “fish story.” The law has been on Twin Lake bass and so well has it been observed that bass are plentiful and bold there.
A few days ago Dr. Moore and Miss St. John, at J.J. Moorehouse’s, were out boating; the oars were copper tipped, and several times bass made strikes at the glittering copper. That was amusing and interesting. Miss St. John sat face in hands, elbows on lap, leaning forward — she screamed — Doctor looked — she threw up her hand to ward off something that struck her face. It was a monstrous bass — attracted by a ring on her finger the fish made that desperate jump and strike.
Adv:A Powder Mill Explosion Removes everything in sight: so do drastic mineral pills, but both are mighty dangerous.No need to dynamite your body when Dr. King’s New Life Pills do the work so easily and perfectly. Cures Headache, Constipation. Only 25 cents at E.R. LaPlace’s Drug store.
SHARON — Everyone is on the quisitive to know to whom The Man About Town referred when he spoke of certain parties being married and keeping it a secret, and almost every young, or in fact unmarried middle-age person has been suggested by different people as the guilty ones.
Marion Turrentine, the small son of Rev. F.M. Turrentine, had the misfortune to fall from a carriage and break his arm just below the elbow last Monday.
One day recently Evert Rose shot a blue heron near the outlet of Twin Lakes. The bird measured 6 feet 2 inches from tip to tip and was 4 feet 6 inches in height. The bird will be set up by a New York taxidermist.
100 years ago — September 1925
SALISBURY — Mrs. Howard Aller and daughter of Phoenix, Ariz. are guests at By-the-Way.
George R. Belcher has moved his household goods from Lime Rock to the Eggleston house.
On Sunday Charles Hoffman of Amenia with Stephen Reed and two others who got away, got stuck with their car and created a disturbance near the Town Farm. Officer Ringrose arrested the two named and locked them up in Canaan over night. They were tried Monday morning. Hoffman, charged with operating a car while under the influence of intoxicating liquor pleaded guilty and was fined one hundred dollars and sixty-six cents. He did not have the money and his car is held as security. Stephen Reed was just plain drunk. He pleaded guilty and was fined one dollar and costs of fifteen dollars and thirty-six cents, which was paid.
H. Roscoe Brinton has bought out the Hartford Aviation School at Hartford, including the instruction rights and equipment. Mr. P.H. Spencer who has conducted the school has secured from the British government the flying rights for Bermuda and will be leaving Hartford soon for that island. Mr. Brinton will still continue to live in Salisbury, but will continue his studies in flying until he secures his unlimited license as an aviator.
ORE HILL — John Bianchi of Canaan who recently returned from a visit to Italy, was a visitor at Michael Moore’s last Sunday.
Mr. R.F. Schabelitz is constructing an ornamental stone wall at his place on the Sharon road.
The coal strike is on, but the E.W. Spurr Co. have been able to supply the customers thus far and at no advance in price.
The week end and Labor Day traffic was very heavy in spite of the unfavorable weather. No accidents marred the week end a fact which speaks well of the quality of the driving.
A new map of the state of Connecticut has been prepared by the state highway department, which shows the trunk line system in red, the state aid system in green and the country roads by two parallel lines.
50 years ago — September 1975
A controlled program of open hunting to frighten away Canada geese polluting Lake Wononscopomuc in Lakeville was recommended to the Salisbury selectmen Tuesday night. Dr. Richard Collins, asked by First Selectman Charlotte Reid to serve as a citizen adviser on the problem, suggested a split season running from Oct. 18 through Nov. 1 and from Nov. 21 through Jan. 10.
Ribbons and trophies came the way of Linda Bushnell of Salisbury at the recent Summer Dressage Show at the Westchester- Fairfield Association in Old Lyme. Linda, a B member of the Lakeville Pony Club, rode Topay’s Red Eagle, owned by Holly HIll Stables. She won two classes, placed second in another and fifth in yet another. The American Horse Show Association- sanctioned events were tests at the Training level and First level.
The season’s first frost hit widely in the area Wednesday morning, exactly three months after the last frost of the spring.
A big boom is coming to Lakeville — to Lake Wononscopomuc in particular — but if you hear it it won’t be an attack by terrorists or a new chapter in H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds.” It will just be Resident State Trooper Robert Smithwick trying out the newest device for scaring geese off the lake — a gas-fired gun like a small cannon — before the town resorts to the more desperate expedient of an open hunting season.
25 years ago — September 2000
LAKEVILLE — High temperatures and a blazing sun gave new meaning to the term “qualifying heats” Saturday at Lime Rock Park, where the annual Vintage Festival was held over Labor Day weekend. Dressed in his racing gear, actor and fancy-food entrepreneur Paul Newman stepped out of his vintage Nissan to cool off as he waited for his second qualifying race of the day to begin. He came in third and was able to participate in the trophy race Monday afternoon.
SHARON — Artist Sybil Perry has recently fallen in love with drawing landscapes showing mist rising off the mountains after a summer rain. Most recently, she entered a pastel drawing of the view of Mudge Pond from Route 41 in a competition for the Sharon Land Trust. This fall, Ms. Perry plans to head off to Kyoto, Japan, to study both landscapes and gardens, her second love. The trip is courtesy of a grant from the Martha Boschen Porter Fund in Sharon which awards worthy artistic projects.
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NORTH CANAAN — Plans for a public access site on the Housatonic River in North Canaan are moving closer to reality.
Selectman Jesse Bunce, who is also president of the Friends of Ruggles Landing group, provided an update on recent progress at the Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Recent progress includes formation of a board, bank account and certificate of incorporation. The bank account allows for receipt of $10,000 annually from the Housatonic River Commission.
“The state is eager to make progress on this site. They’re going to pay for the demolition of the old Masonic lodge, restructuring the road, picnic tables and automatic gate as well as a boat launch for future activities,” said Bunce.
Later in September, the boy scouts plan to paddle on the Housatonic River via access from Ruggles Landing.
“The Troop’s really psyched up about doing this,” said Scoutmaster Walter Deane. “I think it’s a great thing for the scouts to get involved. The paddling merit badge, the kayak merit badge later on, there’s a lot that can be added in from the scouting point of view.”
Located off Route 44, Ruggles Landing would be North Canaan’s only public access point to the river.
Trooper on leave
North Canaan Resident Trooper Spencer Bronson is on medical leave.
At the Sept. 2 meeting, Selectman Craig Whiting said the reason and duration of the leave are unknown, but the town retains access to a state trooper through Troop B.
“The area is still covered,” said Whiting.
Emails sent to residenttrooper@northcanaan.org should receive responses.
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CORNWALL — An inspection of town properties by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in minor fines and suggestions.
The Board of Selectman reviewed the findings at its regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2. First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said several proposed improvements were identified at Town Hall, the Town Garage and the Transfer Station.
Ridgway said the suggestions involve “mostly moving things and installing some more fire extinguishers, doing some more training.” He said the biggest change will be putting new railings up around the bulk waste boxes at the Transfer Station.
The total cost, including fines, was estimated at $2,000, and the changes are expected to be implemented by the Oct. 10 deadline set by OSHA.
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