Westport unfurls along the shores of Buzzards Bay and Rhode Island Sound and enjoys the temperate climate brought North by the currents of the Gulf Stream.  The Westport River carves through salt marshes, blending the rhythms of land and sea. This old New England coastal farming community, settled in the 1670s, wears its history in lichen spotted stone walls that crisscross the landscape reflecting a time captured in Robert Frost's, Mending Wall. Today, the town thrives on its connection to the earth—acres of corn and vineyards stretch inland, while the river and Horseneck Beach offer a wild beauty that draws kayakers, fishermen, and campers. It’s a place where the seasons dictate life, from the bounty of summer harvests to the stark stillness of winter dunes, each moment steeped in the natural splendor of a land both cultivated and untamed.

Nature holds profound value for the human spirit, offering a sanctuary where the mind can rest and the soul can breathe, free from the clamor of modern life. Its vastness—whether in the rustling leaves of a forest, the steady crash of ocean waves, or the open sweep of a field—grounds us, reminding us of our place in a larger, timeless order. This connection fosters quiet enjoyment, a state of peace where one can savor existence without interference, absorbing the beauty of a sunrise or the stillness of dusk. By stripping away distraction, nature replenishes our capacity for wonder, resilience, and introspection, nurturing a deeper appreciation for life’s simple, unhurried moments.

Offshore Wind threatens our beautiful town and the joy that it offers residents and visitors.

• Offshore Wind threatens recreation by polluting our waters and beaches with foam and fiberglass as well as the many toxic chemicals used in the turbines.

• Offshore Wind threatens Human Health with high voltage cables and the chemicals that surround them which will run from Horseneck Beach to Route 6.

• Offshore Wind threatens Environmental Health by displacing and disrupting vernal pools and foundational elements of Westport's vibrant ecosystem.

Advocates for Offshore Wind will criticize your desire to preserve Westport's pristine natural beauty as NIMBY ("Not In My Back Yard") selfishness.  They would have you sacrifice Westport along with other coast communities for the "greater good of renewable energy".  But Offshore Wind is not a "greater good" because it does not benefit the environment as they say.  Sacrificing Westport would be for naught.

Westport offers a vast and vibrant variety of recreational activities, its rich coastal farming heritage and breathtaking natural landscapes blending seamlessly to create an enchanting playground for all seasons. From the serene shores of Buzzards Bay to the winding trails of its woodlands and the fertile fields that whisper of centuries past, this New England gem beckons with opportunities that delight the adventurous, soothe the contemplative, and connect everyone to the timeless beauty of the earth and sea.

• Beach Sitting: At Horseneck Beach, families sink into the soft sand, toes wiggling in the warmth, watching waves whisper secrets as gulls wheel overhead—a quiet communion with the Atlantic’s edge.

• Fishing: Along Westport Point’s weathered docks, anglers cast lines into the river’s depths, reeling in striped bass with proud grins, the salt air seasoning their tales of the one that got away.

• Boating: Boaters glide across Buzzards Bay, sails catching the breeze, their vessels bobbing like old friends on waters that once carried whaling ships to distant horizons.

• Kayaking: Kayakers paddle the Westport River’s gentle curves, laughing as ospreys swoop low, their blades slicing through reflections of marsh grass and sky.

• Kite Surfing: On windy days, kite surfers dance with the gusts off Horseneck, their colorful sails soaring above the waves, a thrilling ballet of human and elemental grace.

• Bike Riding: Cyclists pedal along quiet country lanes, past stone walls and hayfields, the hum of tires blending with the rustle of leaves in a rolling love song to the land.

• Walking: Trails at the state reservation beckon walkers through dunes and woods, each step a discovery—wildflowers nodding hello, or the ghostly WWII towers of Gooseberry Island peeking through the mist.

• Enjoying a Sunset: As dusk falls, folks gather by the river or fields, wrapped in the hush of a sky bruising purple, the sun’s last glow painting a promise of peace over Westport’s timeless expanse.

Offshore Wind threatens many of these activities and hangs a somber cloud over the others:

• In July 2024, a broken Vineyard Wind turbine blade off Massachusetts triggered beach closures on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard due to health concerns. Nantucket’s south shore beaches closed to swimming as sharp fiberglass shards washed ashore, while Martha’s Vineyard saw foam debris, prompting a lengthy cleanup which continues to this day.

• The July 2024 Vineyard Wind turbine blade break, a 300-foot fragment, sparked navigational worries off Massachusetts near Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. The Coast Guard warned of hazards in busy waters 15 miles south, with fishermen fearing vessel damage, especially at night. A 500-meter safety zone was set, but drifting debris heightened risks as cleanup struggled to keep pace.

• Offshore Wind blades break down over time, shedding composite materials like fiberglass reinforced with epoxy resins, often containing chemicals such as Bisphenol-A (BPA). These blades undergo degradation due to environmental factors—rain, wind, hail, and salt in coastal areas—leading to a phenomenon known as leading-edge erosion. This erosion causes the blades to shed microplastics and other particulates into the environment, raising concerns about ecological and health impacts.

• Offshore wind turbines carry the risk of chemical spills from hydraulic fluids and oils in their nacelles, with a single failure releasing 100-200 gallons into the ocean. The 2024 Vineyard Wind incident involved no chemicals, but it underscored vulnerabilities. While containment and response measures reduce threats, expanding wind farms heighten cumulative concerns for marine ecosystems.

Let's not forget how federal, state and local agencies responded to the 2024 blade failure - unprepared and lethargic.  Their response underscores the fact that Offshore Wind is operationally unprepared to protect Coxes Ledge and its coastal communities.

Concerns about human health from electromagnetic fields (EMF) and chemicals in high-voltage transmission lines buried near homes and activities center on potential risks.

• EMF from underground cables may expose nearby residents to low-frequency fields, with some studies linking prolonged exposure to increased risks of childhood leukemia or neurological effects.  Note, the World Health Organization deems data insufficient for firm conclusions but do you really want to worry about this and worry about what this could do to your property value?

• Chemicals like insulating oils or SF6 gas in cables could leach into soil or water if damaged, posing ingestion or inhalation risks—potentially endocrine disruption from compounds like BPA.

Concerns about micro-plastics and other micro-particles entering our food chain and landing on our dinner tables.

• Micro-particles from wind turbine blade leading-edge erosion and blade failure raise human health concerns primarily through environmental contamination and potential food chain entry. Erosion sheds microplastics and epoxy residues, like BPA, into air and water, which can persist and spread widely—detected even in remote regions.

• Blade decomposition, as seen in the 2024 Vineyard Wind incident with fiberglass fragments, adds to this, with particles potentially ingested by marine life, accumulating in fish and shellfish consumed by humans. Chronic exposure to microplastics is linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and possible endocrine disruption, though direct health impacts remain under-researched, fueling debate over their long-term significance versus other pollution sources.

Why take the risk?  That's the question regarding environmental health when it comes to Offshore Wind. 

• We know that micro-plastics and other micro-particles will enter the ecosystem and we are fairly certain that they are not good for humans.  It's reasonable to believe that they are not good for any part of the ecosystem.  Do we want to risk an experiment that cannot be reasonably reversed?

• We know that EMF, the Electro-Magnetic Field surrounding high voltage power lines is disruptive to most species of fish and shellfish.  It disrupts their feeding, spawning and migration activities.  Do we want to roll the dice and risk the collapse of one or more species?

• We know that trenching the high voltage power lines through Westport will carve a 20 foot wide scar up the entire length of the town.  It will cut through vernal pools along the way and likely disrupt foundational elements of the watershed and ecosystem.  Again, do you want to roll the dice?

• We also know that the chemicals used to pack the high voltage power lines have the potential to leak and leach into the environment.  This not only threatens your wells and your soil but also threatens the ecosystem.  Do you want to take this risk?