SHOCKING Discovery Raises New Questions About Wind Farm Safety

Liberty Check

• The discovery of the F/V Mistress wreckage near an offshore wind turbine raises serious questions about the safety of these projects near American fishing grounds.
• Green Oceans president Michael Lombardi’s investigation suggests the vessel may have attempted to avoid a collision with turbine No. 1 before sinking.
• The case underscores how rushed offshore wind development could endanger traditional maritime industries and American livelihoods.

Seven years after two Rhode Island fishermen lost their lives, new evidence has surfaced that could rewrite the official story of what happened to the F/V Mistress. The wreckage was located just 50 feet from the base of a turbine at the Block Island Wind Farm, prompting fresh scrutiny of whether offshore energy infrastructure played any role in the tragedy.

Green Oceans, a Rhode Island environmental group, discovered the boat roughly 92 feet underwater. The organization believes the vessel was attempting an avoidance maneuver before it rolled and sank. President Michael Lombardi told Fox News Digital his team is 100 percent certain they have found the Mistress based on identifying features like the unique net drum.

“Once plotted on a map, it became obvious where the search area should be focused, and it coincided perfectly with turbine 1,” Lombardi said.

Survivor Tim Diaz, who built the net drum himself, confirmed the wreckage belonged to the Mistress. The discovery has reignited questions about whether the Coast Guard’s original investigation fully accounted for the proximity of the wind farm and whether federal regulators should have required more rigorous safety reviews before construction.

“Based on the orientation of the wreckage on the bottom, there is reason to investigate whether an avoidance maneuver to starboard was made in an attempt to avoid a collision with the turbine,” Lombardi explained. “With the hull full of water, this maneuver could have ultimately caused the vessel to roll and then sink.”

The timing of the find carries political weight. As the Biden administration pushes an aggressive offshore wind agenda, this case highlights how environmental and safety concerns from coastal communities were often dismissed. Traditional fishing families now wonder if their livelihoods and lives were put at risk to meet green energy targets.

Lombardi hopes the Coast Guard will reopen the investigation to determine whether the fishermen’s remains are still at the site and whether the turbine played any role in the sinking. The organization also believes the discovery should influence future permitting decisions for offshore wind projects.

“Had this accident been fully investigated in 2019, while having the vessel wreckage, the offshore wind permitting landscape would have been quite different with regard to safety considerations along the continental shelf,” he said.

It’s time to push back.