Massive Wind Turbine Blade Plummets into Plymouth Cranberry Bog – ‘Mini Earthquake’ Rocks Neighbors, No Injuries Reported
ABOVE: The blade from a wind turbine fell off and landed in a cranberry bog off Head of the Bay Road in Plymouth on Friday, Nov. 7. (Photos Courtesy Plymouth Fire Department/ HN edits)
PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS — A dramatic failure at a 300-foot-tall wind turbine sent one of its massive blades plummeting into a cranberry bog on Friday afternoon, prompting a swift response from the Plymouth Fire Department.
The incident unfolded around 1:52 p.m. on Nov. 7, when a concerned neighbor alerted authorities after spotting that one of the turbine’s three blades was suddenly missing from the wind turbine located near 810 Head of the Bay Road.
Firefighters arrived to find the detached blade measuring approximately 75 to 100 feet long lying several hundred feet from the turbine’s base in an open cranberry bog. Officials confirmed no injuries occurred, and made the determination there is no ongoing danger to the public in this particular case, as the site is remote and surrounded by bogs with no nearby homes or occupied buildings.
But some neighbors reported being leery of the wind turbines safety after hearing Friday’s loud, explosive boom. According to a CBS Boston report, one neighbor living a few hundred feet away expressed her ongoing fear, “Couldn’t help but thinking if that was turned a little bit more, it just went over there, I was literally sitting in my room in the window right there, my kids’ rooms are in the one right next to it, what if god forbid it ever went through…” Another neighbor reported to CBS Boston that “It felt like a mini earthquake…” and that the safety of the wind turbines has been some of his neighbors’ ‘biggest fears.’ [Click here for full CBS Boston report…]
After assessing the scene and verifying no additional hazards, fire crews eventually cleared the area. The turbine’s maintenance company responded, initiating inspections to pinpoint the cause of the failure. The company reported that the turbine automatically activated a fail-safe mode, shutting down immediately after the blade detached, according to a Plymouth FD media statement.
The area has been cordoned off, with contractors en route to remove the damaged blade and handle cleanup. The Plymouth Fire Department also notified the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Town of Plymouth’s Inspectional Services Department to oversee the response.
“We were fortunate that this turbine is located out in the middle of the cranberry bogs and not in a residential area,” said Chief Neil Foley. “Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the turbine automatically shut itself down as designed. As we continue to investigate, MassDEP and Inspectional Services will now do their due diligence to ensure this incident is addressed appropriately and the impacted area is cleaned up safely.”
ABOVE HN File Photo from July 16, 2024: A large hunk of Vineyard Wind windfarm debris washed up on a Nantucket beach. Area beaches needed to be closed for cleanup during height of the tourist season…
This incident marks the second major wind turbine failure in the region since July 2024, raising questions about the reliability of these structures. In July 2024, a blade damage incident at Vineyard Wind’s offshore turbine sent non-toxic fiberglass debris washing up on Nantucket’s south shore beaches, prompting the Town of Nantucket to close them to swimming as a precaution. Officials warned of sharp fragments posing hazards to swimmers and beachgoers, advising footwear and leaving pets at home. Vineyard Wind deployed recovery teams, supplemented by local crews, to patrol and remove debris from areas like Miacomet, Nobadeer, and Sconset beaches, while committing to reimburse the town for expenses and monitor for floating hazards via aerial and vessel patrols.
The fallout from the same Vineyard Wind failure extended further in August 2024, when foam pieces from the damaged blade were confirmed on Hyannisport beaches in Barnstable. The Town of Barnstable urged the public not to handle or dispose of the debris themselves, directing reports to Vineyard Wind’s hotline (781-831-1134) or online portal for professional cleanup and analysis. Officials emphasized that only trained Vineyard Wind personnel should manage removal, highlighting ongoing safety risks from sharp or hidden fragments.
These back-to-back failures underscore growing concerns over wind turbine durability, especially as debris from offshore incidents impacts multiple coastal communities, potentially eroding public confidence in renewable energy infrastructure.
Something to consider…
According to online sources, there’s growing concern about the safety of wind farms. Exemplified by the July 2024 Vineyard Wind blade collapse, we know wind farm failures can release debris such as fiberglass fragments and PVC foam into waters around Cape Cod, raising concerns for marine life. Fishermen worry that micro-particles from this debris could poison local species, while experts note that floating foam pieces — difficult to fully remove — may be ingested by fish, birds, and other organisms, breaking down over time and entering the food chain with potential long-term carcinogenic effects. Although initial reports claim the materials are nontoxic, independent reviews dispute this, though the overall impact is seen as minor relative to broader ocean pollution like plastics and oil spills.
Whether safe or not, fears caused by wind turbine failures remain in some. In a WHDH report about the latest wind turbine failure in Plymouth, a concerned witness reported, “I’m still pretty shaken up because my kid’s room is right there. I was literally in my room” the witness said. “I was talking to my landlord, who’s out of state, and said, ‘will they make sure they make [it] safe before they turn it back on? Because I’m still shaking.’ the witness said, ‘they have to. This is a very serious situation.’” [Click here for full WHDH report…]
P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is brought to you by Carole King…
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