On Sunday, officials confirmed that the turbine at the southernmost end of the Vineyard Wind lease off Martha’s Vineyard was apparently hit by lightning late last week, damaging the already broken blade. 

The constantly blinking lights atop the Vineyard Wind offshore wind energy turbines could soon be turned off for most of the night.  

Vineyard Offshore eliminated 50 positions in the U.S. and Europe, but none on the Vineyard.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement lifted a suspension order Friday that initially prevented the construction and operation of the more than 800-feet tall turbines. One turbine is currently sending power to the mainland.

The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a legal challenge of the Vineyard Wind project lodged by a group of Nantucket residents. 

The Biden administration approved plans to build a 141-turbine wind farm south of the Vineyard last week as another project off the Island’s coast appeared to be stalling out. 

The construction marks the first blade work in five months after one doubled over and scattered thousands of pieces of debris into the water in July. 

A panel of judges with the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision on Dec. 5, saying claims that the federal government mishandled the approval process for the wind farm were unfounded. 

Donald Trump, who has long railed against wind turbines, threatened to halt the industry on “day one” of his presidency throughout his campaign, raising concerns for advocates who feel wind energy is a major factor in meeting state and federal climate goals.

GE Vernova, the manufacturer of the blades for the wind farm south of the Island, said Wednesday that it intends to remove more turbine blades as a precautionary measure, while taking steps to strengthen others.