×

Turbine opponents warn of blade mishap

OBSERVER Photos by M.J. Stafford Pictured is a U.S. flag that flies near a CAWTILE banner during a rally at Cabana Sam’s in Irving on Wednesday.

IRVING — Citizens Against Wind Turbines In Lake Erie (CAWTILE) gathered for a rally Wednesday afternoon at Cabana Sam’s in Sunset Bay.

State Sen. George Borrello was looking relaxed in a polo shirt as attendees gathered near an information table in the bar area. A map showed the municipalities in Chautauqua and Erie counties that passed a CAWTILE resolution against putting turbines in the lake. Banners shouted CAWTILE’s cause.

According to the map, every municipality in Chautauqua County with land along the lake has passed the resolution, except for the town of Portland. Several others near the lake, such as the town of Arkwright and Villenova, also agreed to CAWTILE’s resolution. Though it wasn’t shown on the map, the village of Fredonia did so earlier in July.

The rally advocated for legislation sponsored at the state level by Borrello that would establish a moratorium on the construction or placement of wind turbines in the Great Lakes.

Wednesday’s rallies also sought to call attention to a recent wind turbine mishap in Massachusetts.

Shown in this photo is an information table at the rally.

According to the Associated Press, the federal government has ordered an offshore wind developer off Nantucket Island to suspend operations after parts of a damaged turbine blade washed up on the beaches.

A spokesman for the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said that operations at Vineyard Wind have been suspended until it can be determined whether the “blade failure” impacts other turbine blades on the development.

Nantucket officials said all beaches have reopened on the island after the company said six truckloads of debris were collected. The company said that the debris consists of nontoxic fiberglass fragments and that any washing ashore will be pieces of one square foot or less.

Vineyard Wind said it is working with the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain a safety zone of 500 meters (1,640 feet) around the affected offshore turbine. It also alerted the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as well as state and local authorities about the latest development.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today