Broken Deer Island wind turbine spins out of control for several hours
BOSTON - Emergency crews responded to Deer Island on Monday for an "issue" with one of the wind turbines Monday morning.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, which maintains the turbines, said a turbine that had been shut down in April 2022 had begun spinning. Video shows at least the tip of two blades breaking and flying off the turbine.
Update: the turbine has been stopped and secured. Public access in that area will remain closed out of an abundance of caution.
— MWRA (@MWRA_update) May 29, 2023
Communications director Ria Convery said the wind likely moved the lock on the turbine out of position. Contractors woorked for several hours to shut down the turbine. The second turbine on the island was also shut down for safety.
Public access to the area is shut down for safety. Convery said the Coast Guard also cleared the waterways around the island for safety.
"We have no idea where pieces would go if they were to come off," she said.
The turbine, which had been reported by a passer-by Monday morning, was finally shut down Monday afternoon.
The turbine is part of the MWRA's renewable energy, but Convery said the shutdown wouldn't impact the treatment plant.
No one was hurt.