As has been well noted, while campaigning, Donald Trump met with fossil fuel executives and promised them a good return on their investment — if only they would give him $1 billion to ensure his victory. He has done much to make good on their donations (bribes), but perhaps the most egregious was at Christmastime, when he called a halt to five offshore wind energy projects that had been fully vetted and licensed, were all under construction and some already generating electricity for consumer use. 

The decisions were all challenged in court: Five cases, five judges, appointed by various presidents and, as of this week, every single one was found to be without merit. Plaintiffs were allowed to resume work. Trump cared nothing about the business owners and investors; nothing about the laborers, technicians and engineers  (many union members) whose jobs were shut down; and nothing about the citizens hoping and waiting for a more affordable source of electricity to warm and light their homes.

The first and second quickest and least expensive sources of new energy to power the grid are solar and wind. Trump’s efforts to thwart their development demonstrates absence of caring about affordability for citizens. In this he is aided and abetted by sycophantic Interior Department Secretary Doug Burgum. He was confirmed by senators like Susan Collins “giving broad deference to the president to assemble his team” rather than attending to her own sworn constitutional responsibility to “advise and consent.”

Ann Morrill
South Portland