Nantucket Wind Turbine Blade Failure Attributed to Manufacturing Issue

NANTUCKET, Mass. — A significant wind turbine blade that disintegrated off the coast of Nantucket Island has been linked to a manufacturing defect, according to GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik. During an earnings call, Strazik revealed that insufficient bonding at a Canadian factory was the cause of the failure, dismissing any concerns regarding a design flaw. In response, the company plans to reinspect all 150 blades produced at the affected facility to ensure safety and quality. The incident occurred on July 13 at the Vineyard Wind project, where parts of the over 100-meter-long blade fell into the ocean. Recovery efforts have been ongoing, with crews collecting debris from both boats and beaches. GE Vernova confirmed that the debris consists of nontoxic fiberglass fragments, with any pieces washing ashore measuring one square foot or less. In light of the incident, the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has suspended operations at Vineyard Wind until it can assess whether the blade failure poses risks to other turbine blades in the project. Craig Gilvarg, a spokesman for Vineyard Wind, emphasized the company's commitment to safety and cooperation with regulatory authorities during the investigation. Vineyard Wind, a collaboration between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, reported that no personnel or third parties were in proximity to the turbine at the time of the incident. GE has been tasked with conducting a thorough analysis to determine the root cause of the blade failure.