Broken Blades, Angry Fishermen and Rising Costs Slow Offshore Wind

Original Report: www.nytimes.com(full story)

A giant wind turbine blade collapse off the Massachusetts coast has raised concerns among fishermen like Peter Kaizer about safety and the viability of offshore wind projects. The incident resulted in debris threatening fishing vessels and leading to beach closures. The blade failure, part of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, has delayed the completion of what was to be the first large-scale offshore wind farm in U.S. waters, originally expected to finish this summer. This incident contributes to broader challenges facing the U.S. offshore wind industry, which the Biden administration and East Coast states aim to use for emission-free energy. However, the offshore wind sector is hindered by rising costs, delays in permitting, and opposition from local residents and fishermen, leading to cancellations and postponements of several large projects even before the Massachusetts incident due to unanticipated supply chain issues and higher interest rates.