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Turbine recycling not always in plans

Hopefully this commentary will be eye-opening regarding the disposal of wind turbine blades in New York state and a red flag warning regarding the many variables, unknowns and uncertainties regarding wind project decommissioning costs. It reveals how wind-hosting townships may be at grave risk of major underfunding. After the 10-year Production Tax Credit federal subsidy expires and with the increasing, mandated costs of proper waste management (especially for blades), it is more likely for owners to abandon the project. It is concerning that decommissioning cost estimates in New ...

Big money factoring into U.S. decisions

It’s OK to change your mind. When you’re faced with overwhelming evidence that you’ve been lied to, it’s OK to admit that you were misled, especially by a world-class con artist. There is no shame in that for you, only for the liar, who unfortunately is incapable of shame. Before you let the cognitive dissonance that must be existing in your brain, affect your mental health, relieve the pressure by putting the blame squarely on the deceiver; the one who made the promises that it has become evident were not meant to be kept. Denial and excuses only cover up so much, then reality ...

Voting Rights Act before high court

Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is before the U.S. Supreme Court again, this time in Louisiana v. Callais. After extensive back and forth among the state Legislature, the governor’s office, and the federal judiciary, Louisiana—with its six congressional districts—drew a second congressional district in which a majority of the residents are black. Drawing such a district would be one thing if the district—to put it in colloquial terms—were a normal-looking district. But this district isn’t a normal-looking district. Instead, it looks like a Rorschach test. To put it ...

These birds completely puzzle me

I’m a puzzler. I’ve tackled jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles and occasionally number puzzles since I was a kid. And oh, the happy, smug satisfaction it brings. I begin my day puzzling with my first cup of coffee. Every morning, I do three types of word puzzles on the computer. By the time I finish, my sleep-slit eyes are open, I’m vertical, and taking nourishment. Dear Richard refills my coffee cup. At bedtime, I do the newspaper puzzles. Then this Christmas, to my delight, my grandson, Malcolm, gave me a jigsaw puzzle. A gift I would be thrilled to get every year. This ...

Socialism shift becoming more apparent

Are we looking at a socialist future in this nation? With the election of two big city socialist mayors in Seattle and New York, you have to wonder. Today the current number of socialist officeholders is the highest it has been since 1912. As of 2025 more than 250 Democratic socialists hold public office in the United States. These include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), and Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) in the House. In the Senate there is of course the one and only Bernie Sanders (D-VT). At the State ...

Lent reminds us of God’s ‘promise’

The 40 days before Easter are observed by many Christians as the Season of Lent. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday where we are reminded of our fallen, sinful human mortality and our inevitable death. “From dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return” (Genesis 3:19). The Season of Lent was not instituted in the Bible but was established by the early Christian church around 325 AD as a time for preparation of Christ’s resurrection on Easter. During the Season of Lent, and indeed throughout the entire church year, we are to examine ourselves and reflect on the fact that we ...