To the Editor:
Re “Initiatives for Offshore Wind Stall as Provide and Funding Sputter” (entrance web page, Dec. 12):
Offshore wind tasks have to be reconsidered in each scale and financing.
The Instances precisely identifies the causes for delays and cancellations of bold offshore wind tasks within the Northeast Atlantic. However the success of the current launch of the South Fork Wind mission could underscore one more reason so lots of the big tasks have been stymied.
The South Fork Wind mission, 35 miles off the coast of Montauk, N.Y., when totally operational, will produce electrical energy to gasoline 70,000 properties on japanese Lengthy Island and can offset tons of carbon emissions every year.
The size of the mission — 12 generators — is acceptable to its siting in an space near densely populated neighborhoods and in waters trafficked by business fishing and leisure boating actions.
Against this, the massive tasks now being stymied by delays and cancellations would web site a whole bunch of generators in an excellent busier Atlantic hall. These tasks ought to be scaled again to a extra applicable dimension and, if prices stay prohibitively excessive, ought to be sponsored by federal and state governments.
Local weather change and the pressing want to cut back carbon emissions justify public monetary help, which has lengthy been prolonged to the fossil gasoline business.
Judith Hope
East Hampton, N.Y.
The author is the founding father of Win With Wind, a nonprofit native residents group.
To the Editor:
This text illuminates the mountain of hurdles confronted by the offshore wind business and, importantly, the response by builders and state legislators.
The deal with course correcting is spot-on. We can’t and mustn’t reduce our resolve to develop offshore wind as an answer to the rising instability of our local weather. You want solely have a look at the stark ocean occasions occurring quicker than anticipated — marine warmth waves, bleaching coral reefs, disappearing species — to see the necessity for renewables.
But, a reset for offshore wind mustn’t come and not using a renewed dedication to accountable improvement that considers the setting and folks. If offshore wind is to achieve success, past overcoming the monetary hurdles, it should keep away from, decrease and mitigate destructive impacts to our marine ecosystems, Native American tribes and the fishing business.
By early and strong engagement with these affected communities and investments in marine mitigation know-how and techniques, we will keep away from extra obstacles sooner or later, and make sure that offshore wind is ready to do what it must in the long term: defend us, the ocean and marine species from the worst results of local weather change.
Emily Woglom
Washington
The author is govt vp of Ocean Conservancy.
To the Editor:
Re “New York Turns On Wind Farm in Atlantic” (information article, Dec. 6):
As New York’s first offshore wind turbine begins delivering electrical energy to properties, New York State has cemented itself as a nationwide chief in clear power. New Yorkers need to take a second to rejoice this achievement.
South Fork Wind would be the largest offshore wind farm in North America. And, it’s simply the primary of eight deliberate offshore wind tasks in New York State.
New York has navigated many obstacles to deliver its residents the dependable, native power of offshore wind, and with it, good-paying jobs and cleaner air. New Yorkers know that the local weather disaster is already on our doorstep, so we’re main the cost to change to wash power, propelled by the innovation of offshore wind. Let’s stay steadfast in our dedication to being the nation’s offshore wind chief.
Julie Tighe
New York
The author is president of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
Pope’s Blessing for Homosexual {Couples} Isn’t Sufficient
To the Editor:
Re “Similar-Intercourse Pairs Can Be Blessed, Francis Affirms” (entrance web page, Dec. 19):
I’m not a practising Catholic, however I’ve at all times admired Pope Francis and his efforts to maneuver his church towards a extra well timed mind-set. His actions are unprecedented and have to be acknowledged and appreciated.
However, as a 69-year-old homosexual man, I don’t want a priest’s blessing in the dead of night of night time, out of sight, in a ceremony that should not even remotely resemble a marriage.
My associate and I have been collectively for 20 years. We have been supportive and devoted to one another that whole time, together with throughout his 12-year battle with 5 bouts of most cancers, which he misplaced on the age of 52. (And which, by the way in which, was not God’s retribution for our life-style. My expensive mom, a religious Catholic, died of the identical most cancers at nearly the identical age.)
What my associate and I might have welcomed is an acknowledgment that our relationship was as legitimate as any heterosexual marriage.
Thanks, Pope Francis. Could you attain your aim of getting your church acknowledge all God’s folks equally.
Charlie Scatamacchia
Ossining, N.Y.
The Downside With the ‘Bidenomics’ Model
To the Editor:
Re “Democratic Governors Supply Marketing campaign Ideas for a Struggling Biden” (information article, Dec. 5):
I might add this to the checklist of recommendation: Cease utilizing the time period “Bidenomics.” Polls clearly present that Individuals are disturbed by inflation, excessive rates of interest and their private struggles to only get by.
“Bidenomics” could also be nicely intentioned however ties President Biden personally to voters’ financial woes, making him a goal for ridicule. Mr. Biden should get on the market to tout his successes, acknowledge the disconnect between robust macroeconomic numbers and folks’s perceptions, and lay out his imaginative and prescient for making their lives higher over the subsequent 4 years. He should channel his inside Harry Truman to keep away from defeat and the catastrophe of one other Trump presidency.
Mark McIntyre
Los Angeles
The Monetary Complexities of Using Caregivers
To the Editor:
Re “Determined Households Search Reasonably priced House Care” (“Dying Broke” sequence, entrance web page, Dec. 6):
This text about how tough it’s for households to search out reasonably priced dwelling care will ring true to many readers. Nevertheless, it ought to have additionally talked about the issues households have in complying with tax and regulatory duties in the event that they rent aides straight (as is widespread) moderately than via an company.
As employers, they need to hold correct fee data, put together W-2 statements, pay the employer share of employment taxes, and infrequently file and fund quarterly state tax reviews. Merely discovering out concerning the necessities is difficult.
In my very own case, I discovered about one monetary requirement solely after a 12 months of using a caregiver — and I had been a C.P.A. with many years of expertise with household monetary issues!
Some easy adjustments would assist. At first, each state ought to put together and publicize a information to regulatory and tax duties when the household employs aides as a substitute of utilizing an company. Second, permit annual reporting moderately than quarterly reporting. Third, permit households to submit paper reviews moderately than making on-line submission necessary. Lastly (although I may go on), eradicate quarterly withholding necessities.
Bob Lyke
Washington
