Selectboard Chairman Says Wind Project Is "Concerning And Reassuring"

Vineyard Wind has announced plans to remove some blades from existing turbines in response to a mid-July breakdown that sent debris into the ocean.

The company also says it will strengthen other blades out of an abundance of caution.

In July, GE Vernova pointed to insufficient bonding during the manufacturing of the blades as the likely cause of the damage and they do not believe there was an engineering design flaw.

Vineyard Wind has not given a timeline for the project.

Nantucket Select Board Chair Brooke Mohr is reacting to Vineyard Wind's plan to remove some turbine blades and strengthen others after the blade failure that resulted in debris falling into the ocean and washing ashore over the summer.

Mohr says the announcement is both deeply concerning and reassuring.

It's concerning because it confirms that the GE Haliade X blades are not yet reliable for safe use in offshore wind farms.

She says it's reassuring because it affirms that the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is doing its job by ensuring that the project not be restarted unless, and until all precautions are taken to ensure that there's no repeat of the July 13 blade failure.

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)