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More pieces of the damaged Vineyard Wind blade fell from the skyscraper-tall turbine Monday afternoon, sending additional debris into the ocean that may wash ashore in Nantucket this week.
“Several sections of the turbine blade detached from the hub. Some large pieces entered the water column, while smaller pieces floated on the surface,” reads a statement from Nantucket town officials. “Additional debris landed on the turbine Platform.”
The town said the debris is primarily “small, popcorn-sized pieces of foam, with some larger pieces and limited fiberglass fragments possibly mixed in,” and expects that it will reach Nantucket’s southern beaches over the coming days based on ocean forecasts.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a notice to mariners Tuesday morning, which shared reports of “potential floating debris” that may be “scattered in multiple debris fields and varying in size.”
“We hope most of the debris is captured on the water before it makes it to the island,” said a spokesperson for the town of Nantucket. “If any debris does make it to our shores, we expect Vineyard Wind/GE crews to be ready to collect it promptly.”
A large portion of the 350-foot blade fell and sank in 150-feet-deep waters on July 19, leaving a sizable sliver attached to the turbine generator, photos showed. It is unclear how much more material fell Monday, or how much remains attached to the turbine.
GE Vernova, the turbine manufacturer, and Resolve Marine are still working on a plan to safely remove the remaining portions of the blade, according to the town.
Vineyard Wind and GE Vernova did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday.
The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is overseeing this work as the safety and enforcement arm of offshore infrastructure, and acting as a “federal liaison” between involved parties; the agency referred questions on the remaining blade to GE Vernova and Vineyard Wind.
The Nantucket Select Board will next meet on Aug. 7, and this time has invited state and federal officials to provide updates on the incident.
As of Monday, state Sen. Julian Cyr and the director of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management office have confirmed their attendance, while BSEE official Cheri Hunter has declined.
An official from the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has been invited, and a town spokesperson said invitations will also be extended to BOEM.
Over the weekend, BSEE issued a new order clarifying the work that is suspended at the site. Vineyard Wind is still prohibited from generating electricity and installing new turbines, according to a press release.
The new order requires Vineyard Wind to submit an analysis to BSEE that considers risk to personnel and mitigation measures. The company is permitted to install inter-array cables and continue survey work outside of the safety zone around the damaged turbine.
“We will use all tools available to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations on the Outer Continental Shelf,” said BSEE Director Kevin Sligh in the press release.
BSEE is conducting its own investigation into the blade failure, and will release its findings once the investigation is complete.
Concurrently, Vineyard Wind is setting up a process in which affected parties can file financial claims, Nantucket officials said Monday.
“The impacts of this event will continue to unfold in the coming days and weeks,” town officials said. “Vineyard Wind is fully responsible for the repercussions on Nantucket, and Town Administration and the Select Board will ensure they are held accountable.”
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
