The operations of offshore wind farm, Vineyard Wind 1, were halted in July 2024 after part of a blade on one of the offshore turbines broke off and fell into the ocean. The offshore wind farm is about 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, and debris from the blade has washed up on Nantucket’s southern-facing beaches, as well as Tuckernuck and Muskeget islands. The turbine the blade was attached to, designated AW 38, was in its commissioning phase and was still undergoing testing. No employees, contractors or fishing vessels were in the vicinity of the turbine at the time. The beaches on Nantucket were closed to swimming on Tuesday as large quantities of insulation foam and non-toxic pieces of fiberglass washed ashore.

Excerpt from, Heather McCarron, Wind turbine blade 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard breaks, pieces fall into ocean, Cape Cod Times, July 18, 2024