A month after a football field-sized blade on Vineyard Wind turbine AW-38 folded over and began breaking apart into the ocean, the company and blade manufacturer GE Vernova are continuing work to remove its remnants and to respond to floating and washed-up debris around the region — including the Islands and Cape Cod.
Over the weekend, an outline of the blade incident report and action plan was also released.
The latest detachment of blade portions still hanging from the turbine occurred on Sunday morning, and Nantucket officials issued an advisory Sunday night about the potential for more debris coming ashore there, depending on wind direction.
Sunday's "controlled detachment" followed a series of adjustments to the blade's position completed at the end of last week, which, in combination with winds from the remnants of Hurricane Debby, "led to the safe separation of the sections below the root of the blade," according to Nantucket officials.
During an update about the efforts shared at the Nantucket Select Board's Aug. 7 meeting, GE Vernova chief sustainability officer Roger Martella said the remaining hanging portions were estimated to be about 7% to 8% of the mass of the blade. He said it's been a clear priority to address "because when we address that, we address the risk of the debris and the risk to the ocean."
Action plan unveiled
As of Monday, the companies are assessing the risk of any more blade pieces becoming detached. Meanwhile, they're working on removal of the rest of the blade with Resolve Marine, the salvage firm that cleaned up after the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
"GE Vernova and Vineyard Wind have developed a comprehensive plan to recover the remaining AW-38 blade in incremental steps," the companies state in their action plan.
The plan outlines four "tasks," including blade rotations "to reduce hanging blade and possible controlled cutting," removing the root of the blade that's still installed in the hub, recovering fallen debris from the turbine platform, and addressing debris that's on the seafloor.
There was no timeline for completion of the work.
Inspection of other blades in the offing
In tandem with the salvage and recovery work, GE Vernova is undertaking an inspection of all of Vineyard Wind's installed and yet-to-be-installed blades. Technicians are reviewing thousands of ultrasound images that were captured during manufacturing — more than 8,300 per blade — to measure bonding widths and detect any "anomalies" that need to be remedied.
Martella said the company is adding physical inspections of the blades as well using advanced remote-controlled "crawler" robots equipped with video cameras. He said they are put inside the blades, and will focus on "eight to nine priority places," taking "scores of pictures" and videos to inspect a "variety of factors, not just glue and adhesives."
The company is additionally employing "a third corrective measure," he said, "which is using fiberoptic sensors that can detect stress."
"Using these fiber optic sensors as the blades are rotating with a (new) algorithm we believe will have several hours to even days of notice of anything like this ever recurring," Martella said.
Debris cleanup and review of any environmental effects are also ongoing. The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is conducting its own independent investigations.
Citizens continue to raise alarm
Even as cleanup efforts proceed, Nantucket and Cape Cod residents are continuing to raise alarm about the blade's July 13 collapse, which preliminary analysis by GE Vernova blames on flawed epoxy bonding during the blade's manufacture.
Nantucket resident Veronica Bonnet called federal agencies, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, to task about a lack of a plan specific to blade failures within the construction and operation plan for Vineyard Wind.
“There is a pollution response plan. In it, it says ‘if there is a pollution incident, we will follow the oil spill response plan,’” she said during the Aug. 7 Nantucket Select Board meeting. “There was no plan for a major pollution event, and I don’t think it’s fair for BOEM to allude that there was.”
Fellow islander Val Oliver criticizes the state for its "all-on push for this (offshore wind development) regardless of what the outcome is."
“I hope as a community our voices will be heard by the people who are in charge, because they are pushing these through no matter what. Whether they work or not, it’s a goal and they’re going to see it through," she said.
On Cape Cod, citizens' organizations have also been raising concerns about offshore wind development, both on land and at sea. On Sunday, the annual bonfire on Craigville Beach included burning a miniature windmill in demonstration. Last week, Falmouth officials reported suspected debris coming ashore on several beaches facing Buzzards Bay.
"The town is actively monitoring the situation and taking action to remove debris that washes ashore, protect public safety, and hold Vineyard Wind responsible for the cost of cleanup," the town advisory reads.
Since the blade's collapse, remnants of varying sizes, consisting of fiberglass, hard foam and balsa wood, havewashed up on Nantucket, and the nearby islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget.
Debris has also been recovered from waters about 3.5 milesoff Monomoy in Chathamand has been reported in waters west of Martha's Vineyard. Residents on Barnstable's south side have reported finding suspected pieces of debris as well.
Costs could be 'significant'
GE Vernova in its quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission highlights the project's suspension by the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and its anticipation it "may receive claims for damages, including liquidated damages for delayed completion, and other incremental or remedial costs."
"These amounts could be significant and adversely affect our cash collection timelines and contract profitability," the filing reads. "We are currently unable to reasonably estimate what impact the event, any potential claims, or the related BSEE order would have on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows."
Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT
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