Wind Turbine Blade Debris Found on Nantucket Shores

Wind Turbine Blade Debris Washes Up on Nantucket Shores

Debris from a damaged wind turbine blade has been found on the shores of Nantucket, Massachusetts. This discovery has led to the closure of several beaches to swimmers and has triggered an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Vineyard Wind Turbine Damage

The damaged blade incident took place at Vineyard Wind, the country’s second large-scale offshore wind farm located 14 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. While still under construction, the first turbines of Vineyard Wind started generating electricity in February.

The project, a collaboration between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, aims to install a total of 62 turbines by the year’s end. These turbines have the capacity to produce 800 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to power over 400,000 homes.

The turbines at Vineyard Wind are massive, featuring 351-foot-long blades that can surpass the height of the Eiffel Tower.

Details of Blade Breakage

According to Craig Gilvarg, the communications director for Vineyard Wind, the damaged blade experienced a break approximately 65 feet from its root. The blade was in the testing phase when the incident occurred. Although the company managed to retrieve three large pieces from the ocean quickly, most of the blade remains attached to the turbine and has not fallen into the water.

Beach Closures and Investigation

Following the appearance of green and white debris, along with sharp fiberglass shards washing up on shore, the Nantucket Harbormaster decided to close six beaches on the south side of the island to swimmers. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.