Protecting Our Communities And Coastlines: The Resistance To The Radical Green Energy Revolution

Congressman D’Esposito speaks to Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus

Across the United States, there is a growing resistance taking shape. It’s not against clean energy or environmental protections. It’s against the radical, reckless, and rushed green energy agenda that is being forced onto families and communities without their consent, without transparency, and without a shred of common sense. From offshore wind farms to lithium battery storage sites, this “green energy” agenda is threatening our way of life, industrializing our coastlines, and delivering more risk than reward. You may not agree with my politics. We may not live in the same community or see things the same way, but one thing that cannot be argued is that throughout my tenure in public service, I’ve made it my mission to stand up for the communities I represent. I’ve worked with colleagues in government and community groups like Protect Our Coast Long Island to expose this so-called “green revolution” for what it really is: a dangerous experiment, pushed by investors and bureaucrats who will never have to live with the consequences.

For years, New York politicians, backed by foreign energy corporations and climate ideologues, have tried to sell massive offshore wind projects as a silver bullet. But when you dig beneath the surface, the facts are alarming. The Empire Wind project, for example, would place enormous wind turbines off the shores of Long Island, disrupting marine ecosystems, threatening our commercial fishing industry, and spoiling some of the most iconic ocean views in America. These are not small structures—they’re skyscraper-sized machines planted in our waters, with cables cutting through the seabed, and heavy infrastructure clogging up coastal communities. For what? Energy that’s unreliable, expensive, and completely dependent on taxpayer subsidies. I’ve opposed this project from the start, not because I oppose renewable energy, but because I believe in responsible energy policy and community collaboration. There’s nothing responsible about bulldozing local voices, dismissing environmental concerns, or gambling with national security in the name of political theater. Wind power, in theory, sounds clean. In practice, it’s anything but.

The other half of this dangerous push is the rapid proliferation of lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), often dropped into residential neighborhoods without adequate planning, oversight, or safety precautions. As of today, the New York State Council of Codes hasn’t even issued building codes for these projects, but Hochul and her team continue to push the agenda. Let’s be clear: these battery farms are not just unsightly, they are dangerous. Lithium-ion batteries are known for their volatility. Thermal runaway events, such as fires or explosions that are difficult to extinguish, can occur with little warning and pose major risks to homes, schools, and first responders. When these facilities catch fire, standard firefighting tactics don’t work. The smoke is toxic; the fires burn hotter and longer. The environmental impact of a lithium battery blaze is severe, yet Albany continues to shove these “green” projects into our communities with little regard for public safety.

I’ve worked closely with local leaders, first responders, and environmental experts to push back. I’ve called for strict regulations, zoning protections, and full transparency before a single battery touches the ground. I’ve made it clear to energy developers that their profits don’t come before our safety. I even Co-Chaired the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus to share with lawmakers across the nation the dangers, overreach, and disregard for community that we experienced along Long Island’s south shore.

The common theme between offshore wind and BESS is that both are being sold on false promises.

We’re told they will lower costs—but energy bills are rising.

We’re told they will save the planet—but their environmental impacts are often ignored.

We’re told they will be job creators—but many of those jobs are temporary, outsourced, or heavily subsidized.

Traditional energy sources, such as natural gas, nuclear, and clean American oil, are being vilified, even though they have powered the nation reliably for decades. The green energy agenda isn’t about balance; it’s about control. It’s about political posturing, not practical progress.

What Hochul and Biden failed to understand is that environmental policy cannot be dictated from the top down. You don’t protect nature by destroying neighborhoods. You don’t fight climate change by ignoring the people who live in the shadows of these industrial-scale projects. You don’t affect change with a heavy hand. Furthermore, silence is complicit. Laura Gillen has been silent: silent on protecting her neighbors, silent on safeguarding coastal communities, and silent on the blatant overreach of her Democrat colleagues.

President Trump heard from the same fishermen, homeowners, firefighters, business owners, and civic leaders that I did. They are not against clean energy—they’re against being steamrolled. They’re tired of being told what’s best for them by bureaucrats and billionaires who’ve never set foot in their towns. I thank President Trump for stepping in and halting this potential destruction. Real environmentalism is local. It’s transparent. And it respects the voices of the people who will be most affected. That’s what I fight for every day.

America should lead the world in clean, reliable energy, but that leadership must come through innovation, not intimidation. We need investment in energy sources that are affordable, scalable, and safe, not ones that rely on foreign manufacturing, government bailouts, and environmental trade-offs. That means supporting advanced nuclear technology, cleaner natural gas, and grid modernization. It means harnessing the ingenuity of American workers and the strength of our free market, not the mandates of unelected regulators and international climate summits. It also means giving local communities a voice in what happens in their backyards, and ensuring that voice is heard.

Offshore wind and unchecked BESS development are not just bad policy, they are symptoms of a deeper problem: a government that has lost touch with “We the People.” In Washington, we now have a leader in Donald Trump who is in touch: in touch with every corner, every shoreline, and every mountain range. The so-called green energy transition was happening at warp speed with no brakes, no guardrails, and no concern for the lives being disrupted in its path. It’s too much, too fast, and the Trump administration knows it is time to hit the brakes.

I’ll continue to fight this reckless agenda. I’ll continue to shine a light on the hidden costs, destruction of neighborhoods and beaches, and the real dangers. I’ll stand up for our communities, our coastlines, and our common sense.

The promise of clean energy should never come at the price of our safety, our economy, and our cherished way of life. n

Congressman Anthony D’Esposito was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Inspector General of the Department of Labor. Previously, he served in Congress, representing New York’s 4th Congressional District. Anthony served as a Councilman in the Town of Hempstead after retiring from the NYPD as a highly decorated Detective. He also served as Chief of the Island Park Fire Department and helped lead the all-volunteer organization’s response to Super-Storm Sandy. The Congressman appears frequently on Fox News, Newsmax, ABC National News, and 77 WABC Sid and Friends in the Morning. To contact, email [email protected].