Thanks to The Light and reporter Will Sennott for the illuminating article on the Jones Act ( ‘Enforcer’ patrols wind farms to protect jobs – but for whom, 8/23). Sennott takes a “both sides” approach to the piece, asking whether the Jones Act is good for American jobs or simply an outdated protectionist law serving narrow special interests in Louisiana.
The answer? It’s an outdated protectionist law serving narrow special interests in Louisiana.
Protectionism is justified to incubate domestic industries in their infancy, which was the case over a century ago when the law was enacted. Today, the shipping and shipbuilding industries are no more deserving of special treatment than other American manufacturers competing in the global marketplace.
The Jones Act is a hindrance to the deployment of offshore wind. As Sennott points out, it adds cost, time, and complexity to an already complex process. The only beneficiary appears to be a particular shipbuilding company a long way from Massachusetts. When you look at the offshore wind supply chain end-to-end, you see that the Jones Act is slowing down our economic growth rather than helping it.
Moreover, as was pointed out in a recent Boston Globe editorial, the Jones Act is an obstacle in the relief effort for Maui. It’s adding delays and expense to the recovery effort on top of the devastation Hawaii has suffered.
President Biden should waive the Jones Act for Maui. And Congress should then repeal it.
Frederick Hewett is a resident of Cambridge.
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