January 26, 2026 — According to several Vineyard Wind executives, if the offshore wind farm isn’t allowed to resume construction, its unfinished turbines could pose a serious health and safety risk.
The turbines that pose the most risk are the so-called “hammerheads,” or turbines that are partially built but have not yet had blades attached. In multiple documents filed as part of its lawsuit seeking a temporary injunction against the federal government’s stop-work order, Vineyard Wind claims that if the company can’t attach the blades soon, they are at risk of catching fire, dumping debris into the ocean, or injuring Vineyard Wind employees.
For some Nantucket residents, this warning may carry uncomfortable echoes of the blade collapse that occurred at Vineyard Wind in August of 2024, sending tons of debris to Nantucket’s shores.
“The risks and impacts associated with hammerheads offshore are as follows: lightning strike, climate control in the Nacelle [head], and structural fatigue,” wind turbine team lead Steven Simkins wrote. “In the event of a [lightning] strike, there is a risk of the electrically powered and charged components in the hub igniting. Any electrical fire has the potential to propagate into the nacelle and cause a larger fire event.”