Broken wind turbine blade ‘crisis’ fuels NJ beach disaster fears

• Fiberglass wind turbine blade breaks off Massachusetts coast
• Save LBI demands halt to all NJ offshore wind projects
• Blade manufacturer has had problems before

LONG BEACH — A New Jersey anti-wind group is demanding the state stop giving the green light to new offshore wind projects as pieces of fiberglass continue to wash up on the beaches of Nantucket.

The renewed calls for a moratorium on awards from the state Board of Public Utilities came from nonprofit Save Long Beach Island on Monday, several days after a wind turbine blade broke off the coast of Massachusetts.

Bob Stern, president and co-founder of Save LBI, said a moratorium was needed because the incident in Nantucket showed what could happen when critical issues in plans for offshore wind projects are not addressed.

“The incident is a stark reminder of the many potential disasters offshore wind turbines can pose to the shore and the marine environment, and adds to the concerns already raised regarding turbine visibility, reduced breeze, and airborne noise,” said Stern.

Save LBI said significant concerns haven't been tackled regarding the proposed Atlantic Shores South projects such as the risk of turbine component failures, turbine resistance to hurricanes, possible debris patterns, and ensuring that effective communication channels are in place in case of an incident.

The two adjacent Atlantic Shores wind farms would include over 350 wind turbines less than nine miles off the coast of Long Beach Island. The developer is seeking approval from the BPU.

The BPU declined to comment on the request for a moratorium due to pending litigation, according to spokesman Bailey Lawrence. Two other anti-wind groups sued to overturn the approval of other offshore wind projects earlier this year.

Broken wind turbine blade "crisis"

All beaches along the south shore of Nantucket Island were closed for four days after a fiberglass wind turbine broke on July 13. Another large chunk of the blade fell off on July 18.

Swimming in the area was dangerous because "significant sharp debris" from the blade had been seen floating in the water, according to a public advisory from the township.

Nantucket has been giving regular updates on what it has labeled the "Vineyard Wind Turbine Blade Crisis." The Vineyard Wind project consists of 62 wind turbines off the coast of Massachusetts that could power 400,000 homes.

The township's select board said the incident was a "catastrophe" in a statement on Wednesday.

"This emergency has also revealed the inadequacy of Vineyard Wind’s coordination and communication," said the statement.

Not the first time a GE Verona blade broke apart

The 351-foot-long blade weighing 57 tons was manufactured by GE Verona, according to a statement from Vineyard Winds.

Another blade manufactured by GE Verona broke off an offshore wind turbine located off the coast of the United Kingdom earlier this year, Reuters reported. Similar incidents reportedly happened at wind farms on land in Germany and Sweden in recent years.

WINDFARM PROJECTS PROPOSED FOR NJ COAST — AND WHAT THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE

These are the wind energy projects approved for and planned for the ocean off the coasts of New Jersey and New York. While the projects have the support of officials who say they will stimulate the local economy and create renewable energy to power millions of homes, many coastal residents have raised concerns about how the projects will impact tourism and the environment.
The gallery includes competing photosimulations — those on file with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and those recently commissioned by a group opposed to the wind farm development.
Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5

Ocean Wind 1

Ørsted’s Ocean Wind 1 lease area is located 15 miles off New Jersey’s coast. Ørsted’s Ocean Wind 1 Project has the potential to power nearly half a million homes in New Jersey, the DEP says.

Ocean Wind 2

The lease area assigned to Orsted North America Inc. is being developed under the project name “Ocean Wind 2”. The wind turbines were expected to begin generating power in 2028 before project delays.

Atlantic Shores

Shell New Energies U.S. and EDF Renewables North America will develop 183,353 acres 10 to 20 miles off New Jersey's coast with the potential to power a million homes. The wind turbines were expected to begin generating power in 2028.

Empire Wind

This is a New York project close to New Jersey. Equinor is developing area about 20 miles east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

New York Bight

The Biden administration is auctioning access to develop wind farms on the Outer Continental Shelf in the New York Bight, which is the area of the ocean bordered by Long Island and New Jersey. Nearly 480,000 acres could be developed for projects expected to power 2 million homes.

NJ Wind Port

New Jersey is building a Wind Port on the eastern shore of the Delaware River in Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County. The port will be the first port built on the East Coast to service offshore wind farms.

LBI windfarm - 1

This is a rendering released by the anti-windfarm group Move 'Em Out showing what the Atlantic Shores project might look like from LBI. The developer says clear visibility of the turbines would be limited from the shore.

LBI windfarm - 2

This is a rendering released by the anti-windfarm group Move 'Em Out showing what the Atlantic Shores project might look like from LBI. The developer says clear visibility of the turbines would be limited from the shore.

LBI windfarm - 3

This is a rendering released by the anti-windfarm group Move 'Em Out showing what the Atlantic Shores project might look like from LBI. The developer says clear visibility of the turbines would be limited from the shore.

LBI windfarm - 4

This is a rendering released by the anti-windfarm group Move 'Em Out showing what the Atlantic Shores project might look like from LBI. The developer says clear visibility of the turbines would be limited from the shore.

LBI windfarm - 5

This is a rendering released by the anti-windfarm group Move 'Em Out showing what the Atlantic Shores project might look like from LBI. The developer says clear visibility of the turbines would be limited from the shore.