NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — GE Vernova and Vineyard Wind provided an update on cleanup efforts following July's "blade failure incident," which resulted in truckloads of debris washing ashore across Nantucket and other beaches in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. According to GE Vernova, the turbine blade failure was was caused by a "material or manufacturing deviation" at a factory in Gaspé, Canada. In August, the companies outlined a plan to safely remove the damaged blade on turbine AW-38, clean up any remaining debris, conduct environmental studies, and prepare the turbines for the eventual resumption of operations for the Vineyard Wind 1 project. Vineyard Wind temporarily shut down after ‘blade failure incident’ Blade removal So far, GE Vernova, in partnership with salvage company Resolve Marine, has completed several tasks, including rotating the blade to reduce debris, removing the hanging portion of the blade, and clearing debris from the platform. Work to remove debris from the ocean floor began about two weeks ago and is expected to be completed this week. The final step—removing the blade’s root from the rotor hub—is set to take place in the coming weeks, the company said. Vineyard Wind working to clean up debris from damaged turbine Environmental analysis Following initial assessments, GE Vernova has planned a more thorough analysis of the environmental impacts in collaboration with federal, state and local partners. On Sept. 18, officials presented an update to the town of Nantucket, including findings on the chemical composition of the blade debris and ongoing sampling of the water column, sediment and shellfish. GE Vernova said the results will be released in the coming weeks. Return to service As part of extensive quality checks, more than 8,300 ultrasound images of each blade have been re-examined. Out of an abundance of caution, GE Vernova also plans to remove some blades from the Vineyard Wind farm and reinforce others to ensure the project's safety and operational readiness. "In alignment with our commitment to being thorough and not rushed before returning to work, we continue to make progress executing on our August Incident and Response Action Plan with safety, operational integrity, and long-term reliability as our top priorities for this important project," Roger Martella, GE Vernova's chief sustainability officer, said. Revised suspension order issued for Vineyard Wind facility Since receiving permission in August to resume certain activities, the companies have installed eight new towers and nacelles. On Tuesday, GE Vernova was granted approval to install new blades on turbines once stringent safety and operational conditions are met. The companies emphasized that operations and power production will not resume until further progress is made and all required approvals are secured. "The safety of our team, of the surrounding communities, and of the local environmenthas always been at the forefront of everything we do," Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Moeller said. "We are confident that the quality and safety assessments that have been undertaken over the last three months will make this a better, stronger, and safer project going forward." Upon completion, the Vineyard Wind 1 project is expected to generate electricity for around 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, saving customers approximately $1.4 billion over the first two decades of operation. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Ocean, Bay & Beach Report SIGN UP NOW