A massive wind farm is causing issues for Massachusetts beachgoers. The Nantucket Harbormaster announced on Tuesday that much of the area’s shoreline was closed to the public after pieces of wind turbines started washing ashore 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 also mentioned that the beaches would remain closed “until further notice.”
The debris originated from Vineyard Winds, a planned 806-megawatt offshore wind power project that began its first phase earlier this year. Vineyard Winds is a joint venture between the Danish investment fund Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and the U.S.-based clean-energy company Avangrid Renewables.
In a statement released Monday, Vineyard Winds explained that the debris entered the waters off Cape Cod when a blade on one of its turbines was damaged over the weekend, though the cause of the damage was not specified. The company stated that General Electric, the turbine manufacturer, has dispatched a team to investigate the issue. A follow-up statement released Tuesday detailing recovery plans said, “Vineyard Wind is fully committed to a swift and safe recovery of all debris, with an unwavering focus on community safety and environmental protection.”