Editor’s note: This story was published and reported by the Nantucket Current on Sept. 10. We are co-publishing with the Current’s permission, as we believe it can enlighten our readers on the sprawling and complex story of offshore wind — a massive new industry that is already having a significant impact on our coastline.
Nearly a year after Vineyard Wind installed its first turbine off Nantucket, the lights atop the 800-foot towers — which the company promised would remain dark unless an aircraft was passing by — continue to blink incessantly on the horizon.
While the project remains suspended by the federal government following the July 13 blade failure that remains under investigation, Vineyard Wind has been allowed to resume some construction activities, and the lights atop the 24 turbines that have been installed to date have been an eyesore for many who enjoy Nantucket’s dark skies at night.
As part of Vineyard Wind’s mitigation agreement with the town of Nantucket — a document better known as the Good Neighbor Agreement, which was signed back in 2020 — the company is required to install a so-called Aircraft Detection Lighting System or ADLS. This system will utilize radar to ensure the lights at the top of each turbine activate only when there is an aircraft close to the wind farm area.
Vineyard Wind initially pledged to have the system operational by Memorial Day weekend. After that deadline came and went, the company pledged in June that the ADLS would be up and running “within the next several weeks.” Now, three months after that statement, there is still no definitive timeline for when the system will be active.
“Vineyard Wind continues to make progress on the implementation of the Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS),” Vineyard Wind’s communications director, Craig Gilvarg, told the Current earlier this month. “Vineyard Wind is working closely with various contractors and construction teams involved in implementing this complex technology, and remote testing of the ESP ADLS system is positioned to start soon, lasting for several weeks. Once this work is completed, the FAA lights on the first grouping of fully commissioned turbines are expected to be functional via the ADLS system. The ADLS will be operational on more turbines as commissioning work progresses.”
The language of the Good Neighbor Agreement signed by Vineyard Wind and the town indicates that the ADLS is intended “to reduce nighttime lighting and minimize the potential visual impacts of the Projects on the Nantucket Historical District National Historic Landmark.”
According to the terms of the 2021 memorandum of agreement between Vineyard Wind, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and Brona Simon, the Massachusetts Historic Preservation Officer, “The ADLS must be installed and operational prior to commencing commercial operation.” Vineyard Wind announced back in January 2024 that it had delivered power to the New England power grid for the first time.
Still, the company claims it is not in violation of either agreement.
“Vineyard Wind remains in full compliance with both the Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA),” Gilvarg said. “The MOA specifies that the ADLS will be activated prior to commercial operation of the project, while the GNA does not specify a time frame for the ADLS. The project has not yet achieved commercial operation under its PPAs.”
The Nantucket-based opposition group ACK for Whales expressed its frustration this week that the ADLS was not yet operational, and that Vineyard Wind appeared to be “ignoring” the requirements of its memorandum of agreement and the Good Neighbor Agreement.
“Vineyard Wind was operational prior to the blade explosion and the environmental disaster it caused, yet the project was operational without the requisite ADLS, and it seems no one is holding them accountable,” the group said in a statement to the Current. “Similarly, the town’s Good Neighbor Agreement with Vineyard Wind also promises ADLS, and again, no ADLS has been implemented. On May 6th (the day before Annual Town Meeting), Vineyard Wind told the community that ADLS would be functional by Memorial Day. Not only did this not happen, it still hasn’t happened. This disregard and lack of accountability should be considered unacceptable to the town, to the Maria Mitchell Association and the Nantucket Preservation Trust (all signers of the Good Neighbor Agreement), and also to everyone who lives here, works here, and visits our beautiful island. Nantucket is bearing all of the burden on these projects and reaping no benefit whatsoever.”
Asked about the situation by the Current, Nantucket select board chair Brooke Mohr declined to comment specifically on the ADLS issue other than to say, “ADLS is one item on a long list of items that are part of our negotiation strategies with Vineyard Wind. These strategies are always discussed in executive session. I will look into if and when it would make sense for us to make a public statement.”
According to Vineyard Wind’s memorandum of agreement with BOEM signed in 2021, the official description of an ADLS is a “sensor-based systems designed to detect aircraft as they approach an obstruction or group of obstructions; these systems automatically activate the appropriate obstruction lights until they are no longer needed by the aircraft. This technology reduces the impact of nighttime lighting on nearby communities and migratory birds, and extends the life expectancy of obstruction lights.” The company has asserted that once it is operational, it will be activated for less than four hours per year (less than 0.1 percent of the total annual nighttime hours) based on the historical use of the airspace above the Vineyard Wind lease area.
Gail Walker, the founder of the advocacy group Nantucket Lights, which successfully lobbied for a new outdoor lighting bylaw in 2023, told the Current Tuesday that her group had not spoken out on the issue of Vineyard Wind and the ADLS system.
Nantucket Lights’ mission is “to preserve and protect Nantucket’s nighttime environment and heritage of dark skies by raising awareness about light pollution on the island and advocating for environmentally responsible outdoor lighting.”
Walker said she had started conducting “sky quality monitoring” at Cisco Beach in August 2024, and had not yet detected any decline in the overall darkness of the night sky at the south shore beach as a result of the turbine lights.
“The construction lights, the red blinking lights, probably do not penetrate up into the sky, and when we’re talking about light pollution like sky glow, the red lights don’t have that blue light that does that,” Walker said. “Visually it can be a problem for some, but our focus is on affecting the ability to enjoy the stars above Nantucket. It remains to be seen whether it will be a problem with sky glow, which is different from aesthetically looking out on the horizon and seeking blinking red lights … I did some research, and my understanding is the ADLS is the standard, and that is what will eventually be out there.”
They should call the company “stealing Vineyard wind”, Since the Vineyard won’t see any benefits from it. My view in Chilmark, is completely compromised now. All I see at night are the flashing red lights.
Hellie– I am sympathetic to your issue, and agree that the lights are
quite disturbing, to say the least.
However, the sooner construction is complete, the sooner
they will be able to turn their ADLS radar systems on and have the lights
off 95% of the time.
For some reason that no one has been able to rationally articulate to me, the FAA
Will not allow those lights to be turned off until the construction is complete.
It doesn’t have to be 100% complete, for all 62 turbines, but if a “cluster” of about 15 of them are fully certified to operate, those 15 can activate the ADLS system, and turn the lights off.
https://www.deutsche-windtechnik.com/us/services/onshore-services/aircraft-detection-lighting-system-adls/
The longer it takes to build, the longer the lights will be on—
Think about that when you read about people suing them to temporarily
halt construction.
Don’t get me wrong– the blade failure is a serious problem, and they should not
be allowed to bring them on line until that apparent manufacturing defect is
fully resolved.
Have you seen all the high intensity work lights on oil drilling rigs and production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico?
Energy production should be kept over the horizon. . .
What do you see from the north shore on the same evening?
“My view in Chilmark”
How does that compare to the view of offshore oil production that keeps your lights on?
Have you seen a place that poor.
Or as rich as Chilmark?
The flashing red lights on the wind farm are mandated by we the people.
The same people who mandate the the flashing lights at airports, and radio towers and lighthouses.
Think Gay head light.
Flashing red lights cost money.
Vineyard Wind has them because they have to.
I feel the same. My view from West Tisbury is deeply marred by these blinking neon Christmas lights that absurdly fill the horizon. I would request that the company express their compassion for the residents of these islands by turning off 80%-90% of these lights immediately, and allowing the last 10-20% to be sufficient for any air craft to note the presence of wind turbines. By the way, if an airplane needs this information in the middle of the ocean, it has bigger problems and these lights won’t be of help anyways!
The lights are not neon.
The turbines are not in the middle of the ocean.
Vineyard Wind does not want to turn the lights on, they cost money.
The lights are required by we the people.
Just like the Island’s airport beacon, radio towers and lighthouses.
M. Grossman, what is the law regarding lights for airplanes?
I don’t know why people are blaming VW 1 for the lights being on–
They will activate the ADLS radar systems that are in place and ready to go
as soon as the FAA says they can.
When the FAA says they can turn them on, it is really a matter of just
flipping the switch. They are there, paid for, wired and tested.
Thank you MVTimes for sharing this story. MV Residents get ready for over 1,000 OSW turbines spanning over 1,000,000 acres just off the coast of Chappy, Squibnocket, South Beach and Gay Head cliffs and beach. Vineyard Wind I is the first of 10 federal lease areas. When the OSW turbines are complete our ocean view will look like Newark Airport. Join our Vineyard coalition “Preserve MV” against OSW.
We will look like a place that produces energy.
We are special.
We should not have to look at the means of energy production.
We are that rich.
How rich are we?
Rich enough to not to have to see wind turbines.
Poor people have to see the means of hydrocarbon production.
Susan, no thanks. I want to save the whales from extinction caused by fossil fuels. Windmill power will preserve their playground. Support the windmills.
It’s only the beginning. Leases were put out to bid this week which will cover the entire South Shore of the island and really effect Aquinnah. It’s a scam folks and I’ve been saying it for years.
John, I agree with you that wind and solar are a scam perpetrated and funded by the government. MV residents should join with Nantucket to learn more about OSW and to protect our environment. Use the link below.
https://ack4whales.org
Roy, wind and solar are not scams. Why don’t you install your own (finance yourself and, if possible, install yourself) to see how great they are.
Solar panels pay for themselves in about 3 years and then you get to enjoy free electricity for the rest of your life. Really.
John, for years you have been wrong. Wind power is not a scam.
John– please inform me about these new leases along
the “entire south shore”. I have been under the impression
that the federal gov. has designated an area for development
along the eastern seaboard.
This is the map of what has been proposed for years.
https://www.workboat.com/wind/report-says-2021-brought-2-billion-in-new-u-s-offshore-wind-investment
is there something new that I missed ?
Specifically “NEW” leases off of the south shore
of the Vineyard. Perhaps you have been the one that
has been “scammed” into believing there is some new
sinister plot that we have not been told about.
But correct me if I am wrong.
A scam worse than nuclear?
Will the visual pollution impact anyone living below four times the national poverty rate?
Saying things does not make them true.
See Kamala and Don.
I’ve noticed that the republican party and their communication channels put out a lot of lies about windmills and other types of renewable energy. Ask yourself why they tell lies. Is it because the republican politicians are funded by the oil billionaires? Or is it some other reason?
Will it look like the Gulf of Mexico, where poor people live?
Two nuclear reactors would be so much better. One on ACK and one on MVY.
I agree
Scott, I was being sarcastic. Nuclear causes cancer. No thanks.
And IF we were having a serious conversation about nuclear instead of wind, and the nuclear reactors were going to be installed on the islands, NO ONE would agree to it.
I would never have guessed that.
Scott, sorry for the sarcastic comment. I will try to do better.
Seriously, nuclear power is not the direction our society should be headed. Solar and wind are the the way forward. Can you imagine a world where every building is energy independent? Can you imagine a world where transportation is nearly free?
Our world is going to hit a tipping point where everything flips to free energy and the oil barons can’t stop it.
How soon we get there depends on each of us.
Mary– I agree– for likely less than $6 billion each
we could have melt down proof reactors on the Vineyard
and Nantucket. And they would probably
only cost about 4 billion to decommission in 40 years.
https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/x-energy-developing-pebble-bed-reactor-they-say-cant-melt-down
I say we have a vote on this one.
Don, a bridge would be cheaper.
Bravo!
Visual pollution is only one problem. Read the following significant problems.
Renewable wind is an expensive, inefficient, intermittent form of energy. Dangerous to birds and marine life. Noisy sound pollution and visual pollution. *NOT durable due to manufacturing defects, **Design flaws, ***High velocity storms leading to high cost clean ups and water contamination. #Hazardous to navigation. Higher demand for electric vehicles and AI will create higher electric prices for residential, commercial and industry. ##Wind and solar are not viable to expand to manage this increased demand. ###Government Funding=Green Energy expenditures are costing US TAXPAYERS Billions $$$$ for unprofitable corporations that will lead to more lost TAXPAYER DOLLARS. Unfortunately Biden’s administration has stalled investment in oil and natural gas. In addition, the administration has delayed construction of pipelines and LNG export facilities. These issues will lead to higher inflation for everything. Oil and gas are proven efficient and RELIABLE energy sources for over 150 years. Nuclear is the best quality GREEN ENERGY that the US must promote for our future growth.
Roy there are s few good points in your rant– but you know
as well as I do that most of them are incorrect.
We’ve been trough it all before. Just because you want to
believe things that are not true does not make them true.
How reliable was Three Mile island?
Plymouth?
When will we know how much Plymouth cost?
Oil and gas are proven pollutants.
GE has long history in nuclear.
Why have they invested in wind?
Corporate greed?
Guess you haven’t read that Microsoft is buying the defunct 3 Mile Island Nuke plant & will be their exclusive buyer of the energy produced there to power their AI division
Amen to that. It is surprising how many journalists who write on alternative energy and the economy have no clue about the costs of intermittent energy to the whole grid. In Germany, when the wind fails or use fluctuates, it’s brown coal to the rescue.
Virtually no commentators connect the dots between, say, the current conflict in Occupied Palestine and the gas resources in Palestine and offshore in the Med. The world will not be swearing off natural gas and oil anytime soon.
Please see:
https://unctad.org/news/unrealized-potential-palestinian-oil-and-gas-reserves
Katherine, intermittent energy is easily solved. Yes, easily solved, with energy storage. One type of energy storage is battery banks. They are very effective.
Please, stop listening to the oil barons telling lies.
Katherine, I connected your polka dots twice, but both are censored.
You have to pass the bill to see what’s in the bill…. Follow the liberal logic….. you have to build the wind farms to see that they are scam….
And as for the EV romance, forget it!
“Last year, Havila Kystruten, which operates car ferries around the coast of Norway, banned the transportation of electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles. Internal combustion engine fires are easy to extinguish and can be handled at sea, but EVs present enormous challenges. In fact they are almost impossible to put out. Havila’s managing director Bent Martini said an EV fire would require external efforts, “and could put people on board and the ships at risk”.
(https://dailysceptic.org/2024/09/26/electric-vehicle-explosions-rise-46-in-a-year/)
Keep your ICE vehicles well maintained!
Katherine, that organization (dailysceptic) prints propaganda.
On their “about” page, they claim they will debunk science and campaign against Maoist intolerance.
Really? We should tolerate Mao? How about Hitler? Should we tolerate Hitler?
Katherine, electric taxi cabs offer a
smoother and quieter ride, which
most customers value. The taxi
fleet operators value the extremely
low operating costs. No oil changes.
No engine overhauls. No belts to
replace.
About $6 per fill-up (vs a gasoline fill-up approaching $50).
Taxi fleets in London are nearly 100% EV.
Taxi fleets in the US are rapidly
changing over to EV.
And just in case you think EV is all
about cars, here’s an example of
heavy-duty freight trucks switching
to EVs.
The infrastructure already exists on
the I-10 corridor between LA and El Paso.
Money talks.
https://www.terawattinfrastructure.com/blog/terawatt-launches-new-shipper-carrier-coalition-to-pilot-heavy-duty-ev-charging-along-the-first-ever-us-over-the-road-electrified-corridor
Roy, you are incorrect.
Whoever told you that information was lying.
I have directly asked Vineyard Wind multiple questions for weeks and still no reply. I am gettin concerned. They have very poor public relations. It’s about time they start responding to the public.
Paul– I have been going into their office at 151 main st V.H
since they first set up there. I suggest you go in and talk to them.
Perhaps you have, since you use the word “directly”.
I have taken the time to educate myself about many aspects
of this project. I of course know a tiny fraction of the details,
but would be more than happy to share what I know on this
public forum, and will try my best to answer any questions
you may have. Of course I am not affiliated in any way with
them and do not speak for them. I’m just offering what I know.
I probably can’t answer your most pressing question, but give me a try .
Hmm a very naive comment
VW could care less about Public Relations they are totally protected by their Federal Mandates & Subsides so what do they care of local feedback ??? Wonder if the temporary building order is even being enforced??
Gayle– what ” Federal Mandates & Subsides ”
are you referring to that “totally protect them” ?
And what are they protected from ?
Federal tax credits are given http://www.energy.gov.wind
Gayle, do you realize that the subsidies were put there for YOU?
Biden/Harris are trying to encourage regular citizens like you and me to install solar and wind on our own property. Even people with a condo balcony could install a solar panel or two and a small windmill.
I find it ironic that it is called “ Vineyard Wind” but so far Nantucket has had to bear the brunt of the problems! I really wish the Times would do a tour and article on the two story building they built in Vineyard Haven and for its size what will
It really be used for?
And windmill cancer. Don’t forget windmill cancer!
Not to mention Black Lung.
For all the people who oppose the windmills: why is China investing in and building windmills faster than any country in the world?
About 25 minutes into the video, RFK Jr. addresses the blatant dangers of off-shore wind farms. The entire video is worth watching, but the segment about the wind monsters is telling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKniGfvOePc
John, please ignore the mouthpiece of the oil industry. This is propaganda.
That image is a lovely camera trick.
The camera has a very long exposure focus on the distant sky and is tracking it. Meanwhile, in the foreground, the lights from the turbines are blurred because the camera is not focused on them—a dishonest camera trick from those opposed to OSW.
Tim, additionally, the fact that the photo was able to show the Milky Way AND the wind turbine lights proves that the turbine lights are not very bright.
The light pollution is real, there is an issue with the lights already and the lies and lack of accountability by vineyard wind keep mounting.
Suzie, you are obviously angry about the lights. Please be patient—this is a transition period. It won’t be like this forever.
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