A massive wind farm is causing disruptions for Massachusetts beachgoers. The Nantucket Harbormaster announced on Tuesday that much of the area’s shoreline is now closed to visitors after pieces of wind turbines began washing ashore this week.
“All south shore beaches are closed to swimming due to large floating debris and sharp fiberglass shards,” the office mentioned in a Facebook post. The town of Nantucket also stated that the beaches would be closed “until further notice.”
The debris is coming from Vineyard Winds, an 806-megawatt offshore wind power project whose first phase started operating earlier this year. The project is a joint venture between Denmark’s Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and the U.S.-based clean-energy firm Avangrid Renewables.
In a statement released on Monday, Vineyard Winds said that the debris entered the waters off Cape Cod after a blade on one of its turbines was damaged over the weekend, although it did not specify what caused the damage. The company noted that General Electric, the manufacturer of the turbine, has dispatched a team to investigate. A follow-up statement released on Tuesday outlined recovery plans, stating, “Vineyard Wind is fully committed to a swift and safe recovery of all debris, with an unwavering focus on community safety and environmental protection.”