A federal agency announced on Tuesday that the Vineyard Wind offshore wind power project, located off the coast Massachusetts, has been suspended until further notice. Authorities are investigating a failure of a turbine blade which caused debris to wash ashore on beaches.

The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said that it worked closely with Vineyard Wind in order to determine the cause of this incident. This left dangerous debris on the beaches of Nantucket.

In an emailed message, a BSEE spokeswoman said that there were no reported injuries. However, operations have been suspended until further notice.

This incident has been a major blow for Vineyard Wind, which is the nation's first offshore wind farm. It also represents a setback to the fledgling offshore wind industry. This sector is seen as crucial to President Joe Biden's goals on climate change, but it has struggled with rising costs and delays.

Vineyard Wind stated that the manufacturer of the turbine, GE would investigate the cause of the accident. According to Craig Gilvarg, a spokesperson for the company, the turbine was still in its commissioning stage and was undergoing testing.

GE Vernova stated that the investigation is progressing.

In a press release, a spokesperson for the company said that safety is a priority.

Vineyard Wind announced just last month that 21 of the 62 turbines planned for the project had been installed, and 10 were already generating electricity. Once fully operational, it will be able to generate enough electricity to power up to 400,000 homes.

According to a Town of Nantucket website statement, the turbine blade broke Saturday and the authorities closed the beaches on the south coast of Nantucket Island on Tuesday due to debris washed ashore.

In some places, sharp debris is visible floating in the waters and hidden below the surface. The statement stated that small fragments near the shoreline could pose a significant hazard for swimmers and beachgoers.

The incident occurred during the summer season when the island population increased to 80,000, from the usual 14,000 people.

Vineyard Wind is owned jointly by Denmark's Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and Avangrid (the U.S. division of Spanish utility Iberdrola). Reporting by Nicholae Groom, Los Angeles; editing by Cynthia Osterman & Christian Schmollinger