Photo: Eric Haynes/Avangrid
NANTUCKET, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Crews continued to clean up debris from the damaged Vineyard Wind turbine blade off the coast of Nantucket this weekend.
An incident on Saturday, July 13 damaged the massive blade, sending fiberglass and foam debris into the ocean which later washed up on Nantucket's southern beaches. Vineyard Wind did not announce the still-unspecified incident until a few days later, raising the ire of local residents.
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On Thursday, July 18, Vineyard Wind reported a "significant part" of the blade detached, sending more blade parts and fragments into the water. Vineyard Wind ships were deployed to collect the debris from the turbine site and the nearby beaches.
The Town of Nantucket said in an update at 10:00 a.m. Sunday that Vineyard Wind crews are actively removing new debris from various beaches, including Cisco and Smith’s Point.
"As of this moment, Vineyard Wind has not received the latest models from the U.S. Coast Guard or from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)," town officials said. "The wind forecast for today is from the west-south-wind at approximately 12 knots. If winds from the south strengthen, there is a possibility of more fiberglass or foam washing ashore later today."
Officials are reminding the public if they find any debris, do not put it in their home garbage or bring it to the landfill. Instead, they should notify the proper authorities to remove the debris for analysis and proper disposal.
The Select Board and County Commissioners will hold a closed door meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Town's strategy for recovery costs associated with the blade failure.
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