NANTUCKET, MASS. (WHDH) - Nearly one year since a wind turbine fell into the ocean off-shore of Nantucket, scattering fiberglass and foam across its beaches, a settlement has been reached.
On July 13 last year, an offshore wind turbine blade failed at the Vineyard Wind Farm, sending debris that washed ashore.
“The greatest impact was just the shock that this could happen that it did happen and that we were surprised in part due to the lack of communication from Vineyard Wind that it had happened and that the debris was on its way to us,” said Brooke Mohr, a Nantucket Select Board Member.
Officials had to close several beaches during the height of the summer tourism season.
Mohr says the manufacturer of the wind turbine, GE Vernova, negotiated in good faith, agreeing to pay $10.5M to the town of Nantucket. Local businesses were affected.
Under the agreement, Nantucket will create a community claims fund, giving an opportunity for residents to get compensation for any losses they experienced due to the debris.
The town will bring in an independent administrator to evaluate the claims.
“Hopefully this provides an incentive for improved accountability and forethought and prevention efforts on the part of the entire industry,” Mohr said.
Mohr says this is a win for Nantucket, though the attorney representing the town adds there are still issues that need to be resolved.
“This settlement doesn’t solve all of the challenges in terms of the potential impacts of offshore wind, positive and negative, on Nantucket, but it’s a huge start toward removing one of the major concerns that people have had for a year now which is what are we gonna do about the aftermath,” said Greg Werkheiser, of Cultural Heritage Partners.
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