Nantucket issues 15 demands, gives Vineyard Wind two weeks to respond over communication failures

The Nantucket Select Board publicly demanded that Vineyard Wind change its practices and respond within two weeks to 15 specific protocols after what town officials described as repeated, serious communication failures tied to the project offshore from the island.

The demands were announced at a July 29 press conference by Select Board member Brooke Moore and Greg Werkheiser, special counsel with Cultural Heritage Partners, who said the town will expect Vineyard Wind’s “line item” response by Aug. 12, 2025. The board said the protocols are intended to ensure timely alerts, routine public briefings and access to federal correspondence when incidents affect Nantucket.

Nantucket officials said the town’s complaints include a delayed public notice after a catastrophic blade failure last year — officials said debris washed ashore before the town received transparent notice — and a later lightning strike to the same turbine that the town learned of from community members rather than the company. The town also said Vineyard Wind has not involved Nantucket in emergency-planning work related to the incident and has been slow to provide environmental analysis documents requested by the town.

“We are here today for a very specific purpose to demand that Vineyard Wind change its conduct,” Select Board member Brooke Moore said. “We invite Vineyard Wind to respond to this full set of demands within two weeks.”

The town noted that it recently reached a settlement with GE Vernova over compensation for damage tied to the blade failure; officials said that settlement did not waive the town’s right to hold Vineyard Wind accountable for obligations under the community benefit agreement. Greg Werkheiser described the 15 demands as an effort to translate the agreement’s communication obligations into measurable protocols.

The demands include: immediate alerts to town officials for all safety issues; proactive, regular project reports and presentations to public select board meetings; timely written responses to questions posed by the board; access to written materials exchanged with federal agencies when those materials affect Nantucket; and financial penalties tied to failures to meet the new protocols. Town officials said details and the full list of demands would be provided with their press release and background brief.

Nantucket identified a range of potential next steps if Vineyard Wind does not accept the demands, but officials did not announce a single enforcement action. “The town reserves all of its rights and options for enforcing the community benefit agreement and the memorandum of understanding,” Werkheiser said, adding that options include regulatory engagement and litigation. The town asked the media, regulators and elected officials to press Vineyard Wind and its owners to accept the protocols.

The select board said it will provide participating journalists the press release, a Zoom recording and a detailed background brief immediately after the conference, and asked the company to explain any items it cannot accept or to propose reasonable alternatives within the two‑week window.

The Select Board opened the meeting to questions from reporters after the announcement and concluded with a formal motion to adjourn that was approved by roll call.