Nantucket, MA – A Vineyard Wind turbine, previously damaged in a high-profile blade failure in July 2024, was struck by lightning on February 27, triggering a swift response from the U.S. Coast Guard and reigniting tensions between offshore wind developers and New England’s fishing community.
The incident, which occurred at the wind farm located approximately 15 miles south of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, has once again thrust Vineyard Wind—a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners—into the spotlight amid conflicting reports about the extent of the damage and potential debris in the water.
The Coast Guard confirmed the lightning strike on Sunday, March 2, with Petty Officer 3rd Class Lyric Jackson stating, “We are aware there was a lightning strike on Friday. We’ve been told there is no debris in the water, but the Coast Guard did not confirm that independently. That information came from Vineyard Wind, which sent out an aircraft and a vessel to assess the situation.”
A fishing vessel operating in the area also reported no visible debris, though Vineyard Wind has launched a helicopter to conduct a more thorough evaluation. The turbine in question, known as AW-38, is the same one that suffered a catastrophic blade detachment last summer, scattering fiberglass shards across the ocean and Nantucket beaches—an event that prompted a federal suspension order from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
“The coverup blows on. Vineyard Wind’s lack of transparency around the structural integrity of its mammoth wind turbines is deeply frustrating to fishermen. Reports indicate that the lightning strike occurred on Feb. 27, yet Vineyard Wind said nothing about the incident for at least four days,” said NEFSA CEO Jerry Leeman. “This after Vineyard Wind waited a day and a half before acknowledging last summer’s devastating blade detachment. In fact, Vineyard Wind officials met in February with officials from the Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement to discuss improving communications over safety issues. Foreign offshore wind developers seem breezily dismissive of commercial fishermen.”
Details surrounding the latest incident remain murky, with Vineyard Wind drawing criticism for its delayed response. The company,
