The Sept. 9 editorial, “The human cost of Trump’s attack on wind farms,” detailed the widespread impact on Revolution Wind, a project off Rhode Island. President Trump’s executive order also includes a direct hit to the economic future of Salem. Before Trump canceled $34 million in funding for the Salem Wind Port Project, local workers were already building the future.
For decades, residents and groups like Clean Water Action and Salem Alliance for the Environment have led the transition away from fossil fuels. Salem was poised to be the home of a new type of energy infrastructure, one that would bring cleaner air and promote healthy communities while providing hundreds of good-paying jobs for residents.
Salem’s new port project included long-term financial investments in the community and a signed agreement outlining environmental and community benefits — a direct result of years of community organizing to prioritize the most affected people. The Trump administration canceled the funding before community members could experience those benefits.