The Town and County of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and GE Vernova have agreed to a USD 10.5 million settlement, compensating for losses from a turbine blade failure at the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore project in summer 2024.
On July 13, 2024, a blade damage incident occurred on a turbine at Vineyard Wind 1, located 15 miles off Massachusetts’ coast. GE Vernova’s investigation attributed the damage to a manufacturing deviation. Subsequently, the company decided to remove affected blades from the same factory.
Days after the incident, GE Vernova reported that a significant portion of the blade had detached, prompting the deployment of debris recovery teams.
By July 16, GE Vernova had recovered three large fragments and continued monitoring for floating debris, which included non-toxic fiberglass pieces.
On July 11, 2025, Nantucket announced a settlement with GE Vernova, citing that foam, fiberglass, and debris had littered Nantucket’s shores during peak tourist season.
“When the blade failed, debris settled on the ocean floor, entered the water table, and littered Nantucket’s beaches for months, requiring an extensive cleanup effort in which many community members joined,” reported Nantucket in a press release.
Under the settlement agreement, a Community Claims Fund will compensate for economic harm from the incident. “Nantucket will engage a professional, independent third-party administrator to evaluate claims from local businesses and issue payments,” the town stated.
Just before the blade incident, Vineyard Wind 1 became the largest operating offshore wind project in the US, supplying over 136 MW to Massachusetts’ grid.
Following the incident, the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement halted turbine installation at the site, lifting the suspension in January 2025.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz