GE Vernova Pays Nantucket $10.5 Million Over Vineyard Wind Blade Failure

GE Vernova has agreed to pay the Town of Nantucket $10.5 million to compensate for economic losses stemming from a turbine blade failure at the Vineyard Wind 1 project last summer. The payment will establish a community claims fund that an independent administrator will oversee to evaluate and distribute compensation to affected local businesses, the town said in a statement. A Haliade-X blade installed at the 800-megawatt offshore wind farm, located about 15 miles off the Massachusetts coast, snapped on 13 July 2024, dispersing foam, fiberglass and balsa-wood debris onto island beaches during peak tourist season. GE Vernova’s investigation traced the incident to a manufacturing defect at its Quebec facility; the company removed similar blades from service and dismissed employees involved. Vineyard Wind 1, comprising 62 turbines capable of powering more than 400,000 homes, began delivering electricity in early 2024.