Residents had their first opportunity to publicly express concerns over a proposed windmill farm off Jones Beach at a forum held at West Babylon High School Monday.

Many say the 40 wind turbines the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) hopes to build four miles off Long Island?s south shore will be detrimental to the environment, businesses and property values. Critics also say the windmills will be an aesthetic nightmare.

LIPA says the project will meet the Island?s ever-increasing thirst for energy, capable of supplying 44,000 homes with electricity. Environmentalists add that clean, safe domestically produced wind power will reduce the amount of natural gas, oil and coal being used across the nation.

A second public meeting will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at Massapequa High School.

Related Information: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Long Island Offshore Wind Initiative Renewable Energy Long Island Citizen's Campaign For The Environment Civic group not blown away by proposed windmill farm off Jones Beach