Fragments of a broken Wind turbine blade washed up on the shores of Nantucket are not toxic to the surrounding area, according to a preliminary environmental assessment from Boston-based GE Vernova, the company that made the blade and is responsible for overseeing it. to install.
A 107-foot-long blade from an offshore wind farm near Martha’s Vineyard broke down last week, dumping chunks of debris into the ocean.
According to the analysis, carried out by the consulting firm Arcadis, the blade was made of fiberglass, rigid foam, and polyester resin, which are “inert, non-dissolving, stable and non-toxic” materials. such as those found in the “textile, shipbuilding and aircraft industries.”
See below for the full list of tools included in the blade:
Once the shards are collected, the consultants write, they are considered “harmless” and can be put in the garbage without any kind of special treatment.
Since that incident, many on Nantucket have been outraged by the trash that washes up on the beaches during peak tourist season. In addition to fears about how fiberglass and foam can negatively affect marine life, many have raised concerns that any per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance – better known as PFAS or “chemicals permanent” – in the middle can cause serious and lasting pollution of the environment.
The review does not directly address the potential for any long-term harm, but it does provide some information about which PFAS chemicals are present and what they are used for.
Apparently, the blades themselves do not contain PFAS ingredients. However, there are small “aerodynamic add-ons” attached to the outside of the blade that contain Teflon, a common PFAS material. The add-ons are about 15 cm by 20 cm in size, and each blade has 240 of them. (At least 67 of them are in the part of the blade that is still attached to the turbine.) According to the report, “The PFAS content in the aerodynamic add-on makes up 0.00005% of the total weight of the blade.”
In terms of human health and public safety, the report is short on specifics, but notes that the primary risk that debris can pose is danger to those who might step on or pick up a piece. of fiberglass debris on the beach. (Spirit of the Vineyard has asked the public not to touch any blade debris and instead report it online or call 833-609-5768.)
The report did not mention the potential risks to the marine environment.
Craig Gilvarg, a spokesperson for Vineyard Wind, confirmed that the company has a copy of the new inspection and issued a statement in response: “While GE Vernova continues to investigate the cause of the blade damage of its, Vineyard Wind 1 remains focused on coordinating with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, helping to recover waste, and prioritizing the safety of workers, the local community and the environment.”
Massachusetts officials are also watching the situation closely. Maria Hardiman, a spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Energy and Environment, said that “national experts are reviewing GE’s voluntary environmental assessment as a practical step.”
“The offshore wind industry is critical to our ability to combat climate change and generate clean, affordable energy, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to delivering these benefits.” to our citizens,” he added.
So what’s next? In terms of assessing any environmental damage, the consultants behind the report suggest continuing to clean up the garbage from the sea and the coast, and “doing a detailed inventory” of what is ‘ each collected to help determine what may be left in the water.
The report also suggests that efforts are underway to find a way to safely bury the remaining 300 feet. a broken blade still dangling from the turbine.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation, but GE CEO Vernova said Wednesday that the company believes a manufacturing error is to blame.
Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first major offshore wind project, is still under construction but began generating electricity for the New England grid earlier this year. There are 10 turbines in operation, and all ongoing construction activities have been closed since the incident. Wind Garden, GE and the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are all investigating the incident.
When the project is complete, it will have 62 turbines capable of producing 800 megawatts, which would be enough power for 400,000 homes in Massachusetts.
This article was published on July 24, 2024.
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