(GoRealNewsNow.com) – After a section of a wind turbine blade shattered and scattered into the Atlantic Ocean, six beaches on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, were closed to swimmers.
The incident occurred over the weekend when a blade from the Vineyard Wind farm, located about 13 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, broke apart.
Following this event, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement took immediate action to halt operations at Vineyard Wind until further assessment, citing the need to investigate “the cause of the incident and next steps.”
The precise cause of the blade’s breakage remains uncertain, though local meteorologists have suggested that severe weather conditions, including strong winds and lightning on that Saturday night, may have contributed.
In response to the incident, green and white debris, along with sharp fiberglass shards, began washing ashore, prompting the Nantucket Harbormaster to close six beaches for swimming.
The harbormaster advised, “You can walk on the beaches, however we strongly recommend you wear footwear due to sharp, fiberglass shards and debris on the beaches.”
According to Vineyard Wind Communications Director Craig Gilvarg, the damaged 351-foot-long blade broke approximately 65 feet from its base. Despite this, the majority of the blade remained attached to the turbine.
Moreover, Vineyard Wind has taken proactive measures by dispatching two crews to Nantucket to clean up the fiberglass and other remnants. The company emphasized that beachgoers should not attempt to remove the debris themselves but leave it to the professionals.
“Vineyard Wind is fully committed to a swift and safe recovery of all debris, with an unwavering focus on community safety and environmental protection,” the company stated.
It added, “As part of its immediate action plan, Vineyard Wind communicated with officials on Nantucket to inform them of the presence of debris and recovery efforts on the southern-facing beaches of the island.”
This mishap adds to the series of challenges the offshore-wind industry has faced recently, including delays and cancellations of several projects along the coasts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.
Additionally, former President Donald Trump has announced intentions to halt offshore wind development should he return to office, citing environmental concerns such as bird and whale fatalities.
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