In the aftermath of a broken turbine blade off their coast, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) is calling for a moratorium on all offshore wind development in the United States until further research can be done on the impact of wind farm construction.
In a letter to BSEE Director Kevin Sligh, Aquinnah Wampanoag chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais:
- expressed “strong concerns and outrage” over the fractured Vineyard Wind turbine blade and the debris that washed ashore on Nantucket.
- said the foam and fiberglass debris have “potential negative and adverse impact[s]” on the environment, marine life, and human health.
- said fragments in the water pose a threat to shellfish, which are a crucial part of both the marine food web and also ingested by humans.
- commented that the potential contamination of shellfish with fiberglass and other materials could have severe consequences for human consumption and public health.
- criticized the lack of communication from federal officials to the tribe.
- called for an “immediate stoppage” of offshore wind construction in U.S. waters until they can be evaluated for microfractures and other damages.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 