In July 2024 Cape May County government released a statement by Commission Director Len Desiderio calling a wind farm incident off Nantucket “an environmental catastrophe akin to an oil spill.” The incident involved a broken turbine blade in the Vineyard Wind offshore wind facility that led federal authorities to suspend its operations temporarily.
After the blade shattered, large and small fiberglass pieces from the turbine washed ashore on Nantucket’s southern beaches. For Desiderio, it was a moment to say “We were right to oppose offshore wind.”
Nantucket residents began to become aware of the turbine blade break on July 16, 2024, as the debris began washing up on the beaches.
Now GE Vernova, the maker of the massive blade, has agreed to a $10.5 million settlement to pay local businesses for their economic losses. The company, in agreeing to the settlement, claimed no design flaw in the blade; it said the incident was caused by a manufacturing defect at one of its factories.
Massachusetts officials said the settlement calls for establishing a fund from which the money will be distributed through a process that evaluates claims from local businesses.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
