Wind project could power 700,000 homes

continued from front page cate of environmental compatibility and public need” from the New York State Public Service Commission. The voluminous document needs to be studied and reviewed by attorneys and engineers, who will present a report on their findings to the City Council.

Resident Kevin Martinson also objected to the project, saying it would mean “industrializing our ocean.”

Council President John Bendo noted that the idea of wind farms is not new, and that they already exist off the Northeast coast of the United States as well as in Europe. They are seen as an alternative to the continued use of fossil fuels, which is a major contributor to climate change. On the other hand, some residents and environmentalists believe the wind turbines present a health hazard to whales and other marine life.

Equinor’s Empire Wind 2 project would be located 15 to 30 miles offshore, and would, according to the company, generate enough electricity to power up to 700,000 homes when it comes online, perhaps as early as 2027. The cables be routed beneath Long Beach and extend 3.3 miles to a substation in Island Park, which in turn would connect with the E.F. Barrett Power Plant.

At its March 8 meeting, the city council adopted a resolution — called a home rule measure — that it would maintain control over a portion of Ocean Beach Park in the event that Equinor is granted approval to lay the underground power lines.

Without the measure, council members said, the state could simply seize the property with a claim of eminent domain, a process by which a government can seize property without the owner’s consent, but with compensation.

Councilwoman Liz Treston said the measure would give Long Beach some bargaining power with the state.

“We are going to bring in the experts,” Bendo said. “Our job is to represent the 35,000 people in the city.”

Equinor has offered a $264 million package of “commu- nity benefits” to host the project. Company officials told the Herald that the package was “a starting point” in negotiations, and that it would include $55 million in payments to local communities and between $8 million and $9 million a year in property tax payments over 25 years. Equinor said that it would work with Long Beach, Island Park and Oceanside to decide how best to spend the $55 million, even before work on the project would begin.

In an email last week, Bendo wrote, “We look forward to seeing Equinor begin to more meaningfully engage the community. There are many questions and concerns that need to be addressed before anyone will be comfortable with this project.”

Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty, asked last week for a comment on the project, emailed, “While I would relish the opportunity, I must forgo any interviews at this time. Village counsel has indicated the mayor and the board of trustees should keep their own counsel. It is imperative that we offer no fodder in light of possible litigation.”

Equinor also said also that its two proposed projects — Empire Wind 2 and another wind turbine development that would deliver energy to New York City, Empire Wind 1 — would contribute an estimated $2.5 billion to New York state’s economy, and create thousands of jobs.

Crystal Lake, a longtime Long Beach resident and a board member of the North Park Civic Association, offered suggestions on how the city could use some of the money earmarked for the city. “Equinor and the city,” Lake said, “could consider funding for firefighters and first responders who were called on to perform their duties in the event of any type of construction accident in the laying of the electric lines that are to go through Long Beach.”

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said there has been “a lot of misinformation” in South Shore communities about the environmental impact of the project, which has led to angry outbursts at meetings against Equinor and the wind turbines.

“The majority of concerns are based on misinformation,” Esposito said. “Fears that the electrical lines will injure fish, children and adults (are) unfounded.” She noted that for the past 20 years, an electric power lines has been operating from the New Jersey shoreline to Jones Beach, without any reports of such issues.

Powers of Attorney Are for Everyone

What happens if you have an accident or an illness whereby you are unable to handle your legal and financial affairs? Many people incorrectly believe their spouse is legally able to handle their affairs. Similarly, a parent has no legal authority to handle the affairs of a child, once the child attains the age of majority – eighteen years.

Without a power of attorney, you would have to apply to a court to be named a legal guardian. These proceedings are expensive, time-consuming and fraught with peril. The judge has no obligation to name the spouse or parent as legal guardian and may appoint a stranger. For example, the judge may feel that the spouse or parent has a conflict in that they are the beneficiary of the incapacitated person’s assets, or the judge may decide that someone else has more knowledge and experience in handling such matters.

Who should you choose as your “agent”? In our experience, the vast majority of powers of attorney name the spouse first and one or more of the children second. While on its face this seems reasonable, experience has shown it may not be a good idea. We often need to use the power of attorney when the client is quite elderly and infirm. Often, so is the spouse at that time. Son or daughter wants to step in and help out with bill paying, etc. only to find they are unable to use the power of attorney for dad unless they can prove that mom can’t.

How do you prove she can’t? First you have to get the doctor to write a letter that mom is unable to handle her legal and financial affairs. Will the doctor write the letter? Will the letter be clear and unequivocal? Will each of the third parties you have to deal with accept the letter? These are not easy hurdles to overcome.

We believe there is a better way. We simply say either mom, or son, or daughter may act as agent. The problem is eliminated. You are protected from son or daughter misusing the power of attorney by the fact that they do not have the document – you keep it in your possession and make it available if and when they need to use it. Bottom line: all adults should have a power of attorney.