The developer of a large offshore wind project in Massachusetts has filed a lawsuit against its turbine supplier to prevent it from withdrawing from the project.
Vineyard Wind initiated legal action against GE Renewables after its parent company, GE Vernova, announced plans to end its turbine service and maintenance contracts by the end of April.
GE Vernova claims Vineyard Wind owes about $300 million for completed work. However, Vineyard Wind argues that the company is instead responsible for roughly $545 million in damages linked to a major turbine blade failure in July 2024 and the resulting delays.
During that incident, fragments from a broken blade washed ashore on Nantucket beaches at the height of the tourist season, causing disruption to local businesses. GE Vernova later agreed to pay $10.5 million in compensation to affected businesses.
In its lawsuit, Vineyard Wind accuses GE Renewables of poor performance and warns that allowing the company to exit the project now would cause serious and lasting harm. A company spokesperson said the legal action aims to ensure GE fulfills its responsibilities to both the project and the region, which is expected to deliver significant economic benefits and long-term savings for electricity customers.
GE Vernova, however, maintains it has the right to terminate the agreement due to nonpayment and said it will defend its position in court while continuing to prioritize safety and contractual obligations.
Although construction of Vineyard Wind was completed in March and the project has already been supplying electricity to the grid, full operations are expected soon. The lawsuit notes that GE Renewables is uniquely qualified to complete the remaining work, making it difficult to find a replacement.
The blade failure was attributed by GE Vernova to a manufacturing issue at a Canadian facility rather than a design flaw. Following the incident, most of the installed blades were replaced, delaying the project by nearly two years.
The project has also faced political scrutiny, particularly from the Trump administration, which temporarily halted several offshore wind projects over national security concerns before courts allowed construction to resume.
Located off the coast of Massachusetts, Vineyard Wind is a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. With 62 turbines, it is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power around 400,000 homes.