The Town and County of Nantucket has reached a settlement agreement with GE Vernova following the wind turbine blade failure that occurred on 13 July 2024 at the Vineyard Wind 1 project. The incident spread foam, fibreglass and other debris along Nantucket’s coastline during the peak of the summer tourist season.
As part of the agreement, GE Vernova will provide $10.5 million in compensation to address losses incurred by the town and affected local businesses. A Community Claims Fund will be established and managed by an independent third-party administrator to process and pay claims related to economic harm.
The blade failure caused debris to settle on the seabed, enter the water table, and wash up on Nantucket’s beaches over a period of several months, prompting a large-scale cleanup effort involving local residents. GE Vernova’s investigation found the cause to be a manufacturing deviation. Blades produced at the same facility in Quebec have since been removed from the Vineyard Wind project.
