Nantucket, MA – Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, was confronted by local fishermen in Nantucket who were holding fragments of a broken Vineyard Wind turbine. The incident has raised significant environmental and safety concerns as debris from the turbine continues to wash ashore and litter area beaches.
The story was first reported by the Nantucket Current.
The turbine blade, which broke during an offshore incident on Saturday, has scattered large, sharp shards of fiberglass into the ocean. Vineyard Wind has mobilized debris recovery teams to clean up the southern-facing beaches of Nantucket. The broken blade, part of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, broke approximately 65 feet from its root, sending non-toxic fiberglass fragments into the water.
Nantucket officials have closed all south shore beaches due to the hazardous debris. The closure followed reports from island residents who found pieces of the turbine blade on the shore. Vineyard Wind has advised the public to leave the cleanup to their recovery teams, who are expected to work for several days to clear the debris.
The turbine, part of a 62-turbine wind farm located 15 miles southwest of Nantucket, was still undergoing testing when the incident occurred. Vineyard Wind and GE Vernova, the turbine’s manufacturer, are investigating the cause of the breakage. In the meantime, the company has established a 500-meter safety zone around the affected turbine to ensure the safety of personnel and mariners.
Local fishermen, like Captain Carl Bois, expressed their concerns about the extent of the debris. Bois reported seeing large sheets of fiberglass and foam floating around the wind farm site, describing the scene as unprecedented.
Follow local coverage at the Nantucket Current.
