Solar Power in Truro
To the editor:
Truro is approaching a critical energy transition. Currently, about 25 percent of the town’s energy use comes from renewable electricity with 75 percent from fossil fuels, namely purchased propane, gasoline, and diesel. As Truro moves toward full electrification — powering buildings, transportation, and heating with electric heat pumps — its electricity demand is projected to triple over the next 25 years.
Truro’s electrification will provide several critical benefits: increased sustainability (smaller carbon footprint); greater control over the costs of its electric power; and, critically, increased resilience to withstand externally sourced power disruptions.
Electricity from the grid is becoming more expensive and unreliable. Across North America, grid infrastructure is strained by rising demand from electric vehicles, data centers, and industry. Utilities face long delays in expanding transmission and are already forecasting steep rate increases to cover much-needed infrastructure upgrades.
Truro has a chance to stay ahead by investing in local, distributed solar power. By generating energy within town limits, Truro can reduce reliance on outside utilities and mitigate volatile prices. Paired with battery storage, solar power is flexible, scalable, and ideal for meeting peak demand and enabling the town to continue to provide critical services through external power outages. This will be even more important as the climate becomes increasingly unpredictable.
Beyond energy security, local solar offers meaningful economic benefits. It reduces long-term costs, keeps energy dollars circulating locally, and supports a more attractive environment for residents and businesses.
The energy landscape is changing quickly. Rather than wait for grid delays or rising rates, Truro can act now — building the clean, resilient energy system it needs and reinforcing its independence for the future. Voters can show their support by voting Yes on warrant Article 13, Solar Electricity, at the May 3 town meeting.
Brian E. Boyle
Truro
The Quiet Majority
To the editor:
I am writing not as a representative of any town committee but as a resident who firmly supports the conceptual master plan for Maurice’s Campground.
Thanks to the Independent for the excellent articles about the master plan (April 3, front page) and the community meeting on April 3 (April 10, page A5.) At the meeting, many people commented and asked questions, but I couldn’t help noticing that the folks opposed to the proposal spoke the most. The majority in the room was not heard from, except through applause. I want to hear all the comments, opinions, and questions out there.
I encourage residents to voice their opinions either through letters to the Maurice’s Planning Committee, to the select board, or to the editor. Wellfleet’s housing need is large, and the moment to move forward is now. This is too important an issue for us to make decisions based on comments on Facebook or standing in line at the post office. We need to hear all voices.
Sharon Rule-Agger
Wellfleet
The writer is a member of the Maurice’s Campground Planning Committee.
Unhinged News
To the editor:
I commend the Independent for your hilarious April 1 Unhinged News page. My favorites were the Truro Select Board approving voting for those who dreamed of living there and the Nauset grads being flung off the Cape.
In these difficult times, I suggest more Unhinged News — perhaps one edition per season — to help get us all through.
At one point I came across the article “John Waters Monument to Feature Unwanted Cybertrucks” and was amazed by it before realizing I was back in the fake news section. It made me appreciate how easily printed or online news can appear to be true.
A lesson: we must read and think at the same time.
John Shuman
Wellfleet
No Name Change
To the editor:
Was so pleased to see the Gulf of Mexico called the Gulf of Mexico in the April 10 article “Fishing for Photo Ops” about big tuna [page B8]. Made my day.
Heather Pilchard
Harwich
The Real ‘Deep State’
To the editor:
Three real hazards that the mob in Washington is trying to compel Americans to ignore: climate change, Russia’s involvement in American politics, and attacks on environmental protection laws.
The administration is wiping all things climate into an Orwellian black hole, dictating that the vast societal coping efforts that our rapidly changing geophysical world demands not take place.
The administration, moreover, has somehow blacked out public recognition of Russia’s more than 10-year involvement in our electoral and governmental politics. The lineup of people in the Trump-Musk administration with ties to Russia is mind-bogglingly dangerous. They are directly or indirectly serving Russia’s agenda of undercutting the U.S. national security apparatus, governmental stability, and the economy. It is not a hoax.
In the first Trump administration, twice as many environmental protection rules were attacked than in any other area of regulation. That process continues with Trump’s cuts in the three major environmental agencies. Predictable disasters will follow.
Good governance works through regulations that are not always perfect but are necessary. Public protection agencies are not the “deep state.” The real “deep state” is the Washington jungle of special-interest lobbies that has long dominated power inside the Beltway. Eliminating regulation of business was always the motive of the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society. They underwrote the mobilization of MAGA voters to vote against their own interests. One wonders if they now realize that they have enabled, like the Junker interests in Germany in the 1930s, a threat to the rule of law and the democratic governance of the republic.
Zygmunt Plater
Provincetown
The writer is professor emeritus at Boston College Law School.
Two ‘Soulful’ Artists
To the editor:
Thanks for the wonderful reporting you are doing on the arts. I was especially touched by Abraham Storer’s article about Rachel Brown [Feb. 13] and Eve Samaha’s about Gail Browne [March 13] — both such soulful artists who needed to be seen by your readers.
Marian Roth
Provincetown
Letters to the Editor
The Provincetown Independent welcomes letters from readers on all subjects. They must be signed with the writer’s name, home address, and telephone number (for verification). Letters will be published only if they have been sent exclusively to the Independent. They should be no more than 300 words and may be edited for clarity, accuracy, conciseness, and good taste. Longer pieces (up to 600 words) may be submitted for consideration as op-ed commentary. Send letters to [email protected] or by mail to P.O. Box 1034, Provincetown, MA 02657. The deadline for letters is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.
