In the business of offshore wind farms, the spin is what it is all about. The 853-foot turbines are spinning to generate clean energy, and that is a good thing. But the public-relations spin we have been getting is, well, not so good. Indeed, this corporate spin seems designed to turn us away from fair, hard questions about the project that need to be asked.
Nantucket officials, very publicly, criticized Vineyard Wind — an offshore wind farm 15 miles off the Island’s coast — during a public meeting last week. The town’s select board had a myriad of complaints, many of them boiling down to the company’s failing to address mounting concerns in a clear and timely fashion.
The sister island said that communication has grown worse since the Trump administration came to office, with speculation that the company doesn’t want to call negative attention to itself with an administration set on upending the wind industry. That’s understandable. But the lack of communication has only put them even more on the map.
The town found that, following malfunctions — including a blade failure last summer — they didn’t receive timely responses from Vineyard Wind. The board also raised questions about the company’s failing to deliver on other promises it made, with at least one town leader stating that the turbines appear taller than was promised. As a result, Nantucket created a list with 15 demands that include regular communication with the town, better alert systems in place if there is another blade failure, and the creation of an emergency response plan.
It has become increasingly clear that the only time Vineyard Wind does want to answer the public has been in front of its investors. During a quarterly report two weeks ago, top company officials for the project — Vineyard Wind is a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners — said that 17 turbines were up and running and that all 62 turbines would be completed by the end of the year.
In our own reporting, we wanted to know if the claims in front of investors were true. We wanted to know how much progress has been made since work stalled on the project last summer, amid the catastrophic blade failure. But Vineyard Wind has not responded to our questions, or repeated requests to meet and be given a tour of the enormous structures and construction site offshore. Without a clear word from the company, we decided to take the initiative ourselves. Along with local public radio station CAI, we hired a charter boat to go out to the site and investigate, and see for ourselves.
While it appears that some turbines were running at times, our trip raised questions. The turbine blades weren’t spinning constantly but more intermittently, and reporters counted a maximum of nine spinning in the two hours they were out there. When we asked what the reasons were that 17 weren’t spinning constantly, the company responded with no comment.
We also wanted to investigate the claim that the plant is generating 221 megawatts, as had been reported in the quarterly report. That has proven to be difficult without input from the company and energy agencies somewhat bound by rules on publicly reporting the energy output of specific generators.
Strangely quiet on these discussions have been Vineyard towns. Edgartown officials said that they have been in touch with Nantucket, and are considering putting together their own set of demands. But it doesn’t appear that idea is making much progress. Chilmark and Aquinnah, other towns whose coasts look out at Vineyard Wind, have been either silent on the issue or content with the aid that they have received from the offshore wind industry.
Why are our town officials so seemingly nonchalant about very rational fears of another blade failure, and the debris that would wash up on our beaches? Why are they so trusting that Vineyard Wind will be responsive, when we have seen time and time again that its sense of accountability to the community it is supposed to serve is lacking?
Amid all of the reporting, there have also been comments that some news media have somehow been biased against offshore wind — that we are “anti-wind.” At The Times, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. We understand that climate change is a growing and deeply concerning threat to us and the Earth. And offshore wind can and should be a part of that solution. But only if it is done well and fairly.
So in a word, no, we are not anti-wind. But as a news organization, it is our job to be pro-accountability. This is our role on a project with the import and sweep of Vineyard Wind, to hold the corporate and governmental bodies involved in the project accountable. The multinational companies that are in the lead on this project — and that are also leading in many others across the region and around the world — are giant companies with international interests. They aren’t necessarily concerned with the daily, local impacts and confusion and helplessness felt by small islands like Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. But that does not give them the right to run roughshod over the oceans that are a shared resource for all, while not keeping us informed.
We are not against offshore wind, but what we are against is a very large company building a massive power plant off our coast without feeling the need to represent us or communicate openly with the general public and local government officials. That is fundamentally wrong, we believe, and we plan to stay on the story.
Vineyard Wind is not the only offshore wind company off our coast. While the company has responded to complaints about red lights flashing at night in recent days, another offshore wind company, Revolution Wind, has made no promises with the Island, and their lights appear to be blinking quite brightly southwest of Aquinnah. There are other developments planned as well. The Vineyard — and with Nantucket clearly leading the way — needs to make sure its concerns are heard and that we will be represented.
We want the windmills to spin and produce clean energy, and we want these large multinational corporations to stop using their public relations machinery to spin us and obstruct us from asking questions that deserve answers.
This is excellent journalism. Comprehensive non biased explanation of concerns.
There are so many aspects of this project that have been obfuscated or completely hidden by the developers and their local allies. The Chilmark Select Board had a discussion on the general topic at its Tuesday meeting and I think the members were all taken aback when a representative of Vineyard Power explained that the so-called “Community Benefit Agreement” setting forth the obligations of Vineyard Wind is a contract between Vineyard Power — a private group — and Vineyard Wind and that it is a confidential document not available to the public. I hope the Times will initiate much more vigorous investigative coverage of this project. We need to understand the financial relationship between Vineyard Wind and Vineyard Power and the individuals associated with Vineyard Power. How much has Vineyard Wind paid them over the years above the table and under the table to be the local front and cheerleader while pretending to be independent representatives of our community? What is the consumer going to end up paying for the power taking all costs into consideration, including expensive spot market purchases of power to supply the grid during the roughly 60% of the time that the wind turbines will not be generating power? Let people have the facts so they can form their own judgment instead of being fed a diet of propaganda from advocates and the developers who are ultimately just in it for the profits.
Any plans to store energy in batteries when generating excess or off peak? The thermal batteries hold a lot of promise but I do wonder if storing heat doesn’t run counter to limiting the warming trend. Perhaps if they’re stored underground as opposed to the surface shipping container style battery housings that are currently the way to keep operations cheap.
Here is a case study that gives some of the background on how the Vineyard got to where it is now. https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6453f12a83b4a3bb1a7071a7/65fde8d55e32ed2d74a458b9_VO%20Case%20Study_MV%2010.30.23.pdf
And here’s more:
https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/Vineyard-Wind-COP-Volume-III-Appendix-III-Q_0.pdf
“ Resiliency and Affordability Fund: $15 Million
Vineyard Wind will establish and contribute $1 million annually for 15 years to the Resiliency and Affordability Fund, which will support low-income ratepayers, promote clean energy projects in communities on the Cape and Islands, and fund effective use of distributed battery energy storage to enhance the resiliency of local coastal communities in the face of climate change. The Fund will be managed by Citizens Energy, a long-time leader in effective energy solutions for low-income ratepayers, our community partner Vineyard Power, and representatives from host communities of the project.
The Resiliency and Affordability Fund will fund distributed battery energy storage and solar projects in local communities as well as provide credits directly to low-income ratepayers’ electric utility bills. Projects supported by the Fund will be implemented in New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Barnstable and Yarmouth and across Bristol County. Projects will include solar and energy storage projects and will demonstrate how decentralized battery energy storage will enhance reliability as Massachusetts continues to expand renewable energy resources such as offshore wind.”
Look at your eversource bill. The cost for ”transmission” paid to Eversource vs ”supplier” (no matter who you chose if not Cape cape light compact (default) EXCEEDs the cost of the electricity. My own electric is from a supplier I choose, but it would appear that the utility is being forced to pay a higher cost to transmit. My price is FIXED rate so its been noticable that the transmission right has risen. So I guess YOU are paying for the ‘green new deal” whether you like it or not. I suggest the newspaper hire a small plane and fly over these contraptions and report on the industrialization of our once pristine waters. What is interesting is that now that construction is mostly complete we don’t hear about whales mysteriously dying which happenned suspiciuously during the process
Larry– for once I agree with Andy– the Times has written an honest and informative editorial about the obvious lack of transparency and unwillingness by Vineyard Wind to address the serious and legitimate concerns of the communities impacted by this project . Quite frankly they have failed on that point time and time again. But I don’t agree with you unfounded insinuations that Vineyard Power is somehow getting money “under the table”. So, Larry– it just so happens that Vineyard Power has an open to the public meeting once a month in their offices at 151 Beach road in V.h. This month’s is scheduled for Wednesday August 13 th from 5 to 7 pm. Why don’t you just go down there– I’ll be there– and ask the representatives of Vineyard Power about that ? Ask them to their face, rather than engaging in ignorant accusations. Find out the facts for yourself. And while you are looking for facts– the last time Eversource raised their distribution charge was in November of 2024. You allege they were “forced” to do that because of the “green new deal” . Could you offer a little more of a detailed explanation as to how that happened and why ?
Eversource is in the transportation business.
They do no generate.
I suggest that you hire a small plane and fly over the ‘Gulf of America’ and fly over those contraptions and report on the industrialization of those once pristine waters.
How many whales were killed by the construction phase as confirmed by peer reviewed Marine Biologists (trust the science)?
What is the annual US rate of whale death by ship strike?
Here on Nantucket we have a noticable loss of south shore seabirds. The red flashing lights across our once historic dark horizon are still constantly flashing and it’s horrific to observe. We were given a jewel and we botched it. Our state elected officials too, have decided to sacrifice the islands. I hope our grandchildren, and their grandchildren forgive us.
All of these ridiculously late protests simply show people have ignored what has been well publicized for decades – especially in Northern Europe.
Laziness coupled with refusal to look beyond the hallowed shores: under water 65-160’ in diameter! (Half the Length of a football field) And, check out the vibrations and noise and salt water corrosion too. You all including the reporter are only seeing what pops up above water.
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