Wind Farm Debris Causes Concerns On Nantucket Beaches
Nantucket residents are dealing with an unexpected environmental issue as debris from a broken wind turbine blade has washed up on the south shore. The incident has led to the closure of the waters to swimmers and the temporary shutdown of the offshore wind farm by federal authorities.
The debris began appearing on July 16, days after a reported offshore incident involving one of the turbine blades on July 13. Vineyard Wind, the operator, confirmed the blade suffered damage but provided few details. “The blade experienced a breakage approximately 20 meters out from the root,” said company spokesman Craig Gilvarg. He noted that most of the blade remains attached to the turbine.
Residents quickly noticed the impact, with pieces of green and white foam and larger fiberglass shards washing up along southern Nantucket beaches, from Madaket to Nobadeer. The town responded by closing the beaches for swimming due to safety concerns.
“The water is closed to swimming on all south shore beaches, due to large floating debris and sharp fiberglass shards,” said Nantucket Harbormaster Sheila Lucey. She advised beachgoers to wear footwear to avoid injury from the debris.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement ordered the shutdown of Vineyard Wind’s turbines. The company stated it is working with the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain a safety zone around the damaged turbine and has mobilized teams to recover debris from the beaches.
Vineyard Wind emphasized its commitment to community safety and environmental protection. However, concerns grew when the CEO of Vineyard Wind left a local meeting due to a potential detachment of the remainder of the damaged blade.
Local lobstermen have voiced concerns about the toxicity of the fiberglass material used in the turbine blades, fearing long-term environmental impacts and potential threats to their businesses. One lobsterman warned that disasters like this could signal the end of his livelihood.
Despite the current issues, it remains to be seen how Vineyard Wind and environmental groups will address the aftermath and future safety measures for offshore wind farms.
