Marcc 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over!

It bears repeating from February—numbers matter! Please send emails to the current administration at the email addresses listed below, letting them know why the CURRENT construction of wind farms off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts needs to END. Ask others to do the same—in March we’ll double our efforts!

The White House Emails:
comments@whitehouse.gov
president@whitehouse.gov

Email Tips
Ensure your email is in plain text format (without attachments or graphics), and state reasons to stop the wind farms that are currently being constructed off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Suggested topics can be copied and pasted from our February Newsletter, linked here.

Legal Update

As previously stated—Green Oceans is preparing an amicus brief for inclusion in a petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court in support of the fishing industry’s challenge to offshore wind (Seafreeze Shoreside v. USDOI). This appeal follows a lower court decision and involves Meghan Lapp, who earlier this year won her case before the Supreme Court, leading to the end of Chevron deference.nge to offshore wind (Seafreeze Shoreside v. USDOI). This appeal follows a lower court decision and involves Meghan Lapp, who earlier this year won her case before the Supreme Court, leading to the end of Chevron deference.

Recent Developments

Vineyard Wind Lightning Strike

On March 2, 2025, it was reported that the Vineyard Wind turbine AW-38, which had previously suffered a blade failure on July 13, 2024, was struck by lightning in late February 2025. Here are some key details about this incident:

• The lightning strike occurred on either February 27 or 28, with some conflicting reports on the exact date

• The lightning strike affected the already damaged blade, which had only a nub remaining after the July 2024 incident. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that, as a result of the strike, the turbine “caught fire, and detached…”

• According to Vineyard Wind, the damage was confined to the broken blade, with no apparent impact on the nacelle or turbine structure.

• No debris was initially spotted in the water following the lightning strike, according to both Vineyard Wind and the U.S. Coast Guard.

• The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is overseeing the assessment and response to the lightning strike and has required Vineyard Wind to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage.

• This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Vineyard Wind project since the initial blade failure in July 2024, which had already led to a six-month suspension of the project by BSEE.

• The damaged blade was originally scheduled for removal and replacement in May 2025, as part of GE Vernova's planned maintenance.

• The turbine's lightning protection system was not operational at the time of the strike due to the previous blade failure in July 2024. Lightning strikes on wind turbines are not uncommon, according to Sanjay Arwade, a civil and environmental engineering professor at UMass Amherst.This event underscores the importance of operational lightning protection systems for offshore wind turbines, as lightning damage is a significant cause of unplanned downtime in the wind energy industry.

By the Numbers

Speaking of combustion, our social media accounts are on fire! This past year, our posts on Instagram and Facebook reached over 2.5 million people.

If you’re not already following Green Oceans on social media, see our links below. Following us is the easiest way to stay up-to-date with our latest news in real-time.

• Instagram

• Facebook

• X

• Threads

• Truth Social

• Bluesky

• YouTube

Westport Offshore Wind Advisory Committee (OSWAC) Public Meeting

This past Thursday, March 20th, the Westport Offshore Wind Advisory Committee (OSWAC) met to discuss the opportunities and limitations of the Town applying for “Intervenor Status” from the MA Energy Facilities Siting Board should a wind company seek to land cabling on Horseneck Beach. Other pending state legislation pertaining to OSW was also discussed, including proposed regulatory changes for state-protected Article 97 natural areas (such as Horseneck Beach and Cape Cod's Dowses Beach) that clear the way for “clean” energy easements through these cherished open spaces.

Please note that the MA Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will hold a public hearing for the proposed Article 97 alterations on:

Wednesday, March 26th

4:00pm
Please register here to comment

OSWAC and the attending public brainstormed about possible topics for future meetings. At OSWAC’s April meeting, marine scientist Michael Lombardi will present on a study of microplastics found at Westport’s Elephant Rock Beach after the Vineyard Wind 1 turbine blade failure. Topics for future meetings will include: 

• The alarming increase in marine mammal deaths over the past few years, which coincide with OSW seismic testing and construction operations

• Possible impacts of OSW arrays on the fishing community

• Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) associated with OSW inter-array and extra high-voltage export cabling (underwater and onshore).

New England Saltwater Fishing Show Attendance

Earlier in the month, Green Oceans felt the love in a big way at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show. A big thank you to our phenomenal booth volunteers, the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association for organizing the show so masterfully, and our friends at Bounty Hunter Shark Adventures for the killer sign placement. Watch our recap video documenting how the fishing community feels about offshore wind on our Instagram page here.

Contamination at Quonset Point Update

Revolution Wind along with BOND Civil & Utility Construction are in the final stages of building an onshore substation which will receive cables running up the West Passage of Narragansett Bay from their wind farm. This substation is being built on top of a capped former landfill and fuel dump; as a result of the cap being compromised, it’s possible that arsenic, heavy metals and solid waste have been disturbed during construction. Throughout construction they have trenched three linear miles, gathered the escaping water, treated the water and discharged it into the Quonset Point Corporation (QDC) drainage system which empties into Narragansett Bay and nearby wetlands.  In 2023, RI passed rules and regulations for surface and ground water quality to require testing for PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Revolution Wind’s most recent permit obtained in October 2024 is the first time they were required to test for PFAS. Though it appears that they have not been in violation of exposing PFAS, they have been in violation of discharging excessive amounts of arsenic, silver, lead, zinc, copper, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates and petroleum hydrocarbons. 

Research continues in order to understand if this has negatively affected Narragansett Bay and neighboring communities.

Looking Ahead

Donations to our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Please donate by clicking below.

Other Ways to Donate

• Mail a check to:
  Green Oceans
  P.O. Box 976
  Little Compton, RI 02837

• Contact us at info@green-oceans.org for alternative methods such as Donor Advised Fund (DAF), Wire or Stock Transfer.

Making a donation to Green Oceans will greatly improve our chances of ending offshore wind construction in our area. In turn, the ripple effect from our success could provide enough hope and traction for the same goal to be achieved with other offshore wind projects that pose a real threat to the environment and thus, our quality of life.

Helpful Information

Environmental Tip

This spring, rather than rushing to tidy up—consider adopting a natural approach that welcomes pollinators. Embracing the beauty of a messy yard can foster a thriving ecosystem. By exercising a bit of patience, you can safeguard native species, promote biodiversity, and ensure your garden remains vibrant for years to come. Dead plant material plays a crucial role in the lives of native bees, wasps, and other vital pollinators, serving as essential shelter and breeding grounds. 

Environmental experts reveal some startling facts:

• Dead plant stems are home to 80% of native bee nests

• A single hollow stem can nurture up to 20 pollinator larvae

• Premature yard tidying can erase half a year of bee development

Helping pollinators thrive: easy steps to make a difference

• Postpone yard cleanup until temperatures remain consistently above 50 degrees.

• Collect and store cut stems in a sheltered spot, allowing pollinators to safely emerge.

• Establish "pollinator corners" by leaving certain areas of your yard untouched.

• Inform your neighbors and community about the benefits of maintaining a natural yard.

Newsletter Nightcap

Thank you for staying informed, involved, and being part of this journey. Share this newsletter with friends and family—together, we can make a difference! As always, we will keep you updated on all of the latest news and developments. Keep advocating for the health of the ocean and beyond!

Thank You to Our Supporters!

Green Oceans is a broad coalition of citizens who are committed to protecting and preserving our coastal waters. Whether you have made a financial contribution, volunteered, helped spread awareness about our mission, attended a seminar, or posted a yard sign—we thank you for your support!

As Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, “The simple step for a courageous individual, is not to take part in the lie.”

Onward,

Lisa, Bill, Bryan, Charlotte, Barbara, Katie, and the Green Oceans Team

Ways to Get Involved

Sign Our Petition

We now have over 3,000 signatures from 30 States and nine countries, but we need more! Please distribute the link to family, neighbors, and friends to help gather more signatures.

Volunteer

We value your skills! Sign up for our volunteer directory.

Host a Zoom Presentation

The Green Oceans team often holds small, focus-group presentations. Please consider hosting a Zoom to inform your neighbors and friends.

Post a Yard Sign

Supporters have requested over 500 yard signs.

About Green Oceans

Green Oceans is a non-partisan, grassroots group of community members dedicated to preserving the health of the ocean and the biodiversity it sustains founded in January 2023.We strive to protect the ocean by informing the public about imminent threats, including the impact of offshore wind on the marine ecosystem.

Learn More

Visit our website, follow us on social media, or contact us directly via email for more information.