Vineyard Wind Breaks Its Silence After Nantucket Press Conference

Just hours after Nantucket officials concluded a press conference in which they condemned Vineyard Wind and claimed the company had "gone into hiding," the offshore wind developer broke its silence.

It had been months since Vineyard Wind had sent out a press release, posted on social media, or updated its website. But on Tuesday, after getting lambasted by island Select Board members and given a list of demands, the company put out a statement claiming that it would be "resuming traditional communications and coordination with the Town in a manner that supports a productive dialogue.

Vineyard Wind's lack of communication to the town - Select Board member Brooke Mohr said previously the town had not heard from the company since February - was a recurring theme during Tuesday's press conference.

"Since the immediate aftermath of the blade failure and since the last presidential election, Vineyard Wind leadership has essentially gone into hiding," Mohr said. "We believe that they are concerned about the change in policy at the federal level, and drawing scrutiny from the new administration, which has ordered a review of offshore wind permitting practices. However, hiding is not the solution to their problems, nor is it the solution to our problems. In fact, as evidenced today by this press conference, it has the opposite intended effect. We are, and have had no choice but to go public."

In its statement, Vineyard Wind repeatedly referenced the town's recent $10.5 million settlement with the turbine blade manufacturer GE Vernova and claimed that it had agreed to the deal, even though Vineyard Wind was not a signatory to the settlement.

“Earlier this month, Vineyard Wind, GE Vernova, and the Town of Nantucket agreed to a settlement that resolved all claims and any harms related to the 2024 blade incident," Vineyard Wind's statement reads. "As it has always done, Vineyard Wind will continue to meet all state and federal permit requirements, and coordinate with the Town consistent with the Good Neighbor Agreement. Following the conclusion of the settlement process, Vineyard Wind has anticipated resuming traditional communications and coordination with the Town in a manner that supports a productive dialogue. Vineyard Wind believes the settlement represents a fair and conclusive outcome for all parties, and hopes the Town of Nantucket will move forward in the spirit of that settlement and work together towards a constructive, positive relationship.”

While it did not sign the settlement agreement with the town and GE Vernova, Section 4 of the settlement releases Vineyard Wind from all liability related to the 2024 blade incident. The town stated bluntly at the time that it "would not accept Vineyard Wind as a signatory to the settlement."

“The Town of Nantucket commends GE Vernova for its leadership in reaching this agreement. By contrast, the Town has found Vineyard Wind wanting in terms of its leadership, accountability, transparency, and stewardship in the aftermath of the blade failure and determined that it would not accept Vineyard Wind as a signatory to the settlement,” the town stated earlier this month.

GE Vernova had previously cited a manufacturing deviation at its plant in Gaspé, Canada, as the cause of the July 2024 blade failure that set in motion the events leading up to Tuesday's press conference. After the Biden administration lifted the suspension order for the project in January 2025, Vineyard Wind is now in the process of removing more than 60 defective blades that had already been installed at the wind farm that came from the Canadian plant.