A large wind farm is causing issues for Massachusetts beachgoers. The Nantucket Harbormaster announced on Tuesday that much of the area’s shoreline has been closed to visitors after pieces of wind turbines started washing up on shore this week.
“All south shore beaches are closed to swimming due to large floating debris and sharp fiberglass shards,” the office stated in a Facebook post. The town of Nantucket added that the beaches would be closed “until further notice.”
The debris is originating from Vineyard Winds, an 806-megawatt offshore wind power project whose first phase began operating earlier this year. The project is a collaboration between the Danish investment fund Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and the U.S.-based clean-energy firm Avangrid Renewables.
In a statement released Monday, Vineyard Winds said that the debris entered the waters off Cape Cod when a blade was damaged on one of its turbines over the weekend, without specifying the cause of the damage. The company mentioned that General Electric, the manufacturer of the turbine, has sent a team to investigate the issue. A follow-up statement released on Tuesday outlined recovery plans, stating that “Vineyard Wind is fully committed to a swift and safe recovery of all debris, with an unwavering focus on community safety and environmental protection.”