In July 2024, a turbine blade from the first US offshore wind farm broke, causing debris to wash up on the beaches of Nantucket, an island desperately seeking an alternative to fossil fuels.
But the future of wind power is now in the hands of Nantucket’s lifelong residents, wealthy seasonal tourists and environmentalists – including those dressed as whales.
opposition to offshore wind has been building for decades and has been linked to the fossil fuel industry, right-wing groups and a conspiracy theory about whale deaths.
The blade break has exposed disagreements within the local population and led to Vineyard Wind laying off 900 employees, in part due to accidents.
The fight reveals the challenges that climate organizers face in their bids for publicly owned renewables and an alternative to oil.