Rolling blackouts and temporary power outages experienced across the Island last weekend were caused by an undersea cable failure, according to Eversource.
Since 2022, Eversource has been telling customers on the Vineyard that the utility company cannot take on any solar projects larger than 15 kilowatts — and in some instances 25 kilowatts — while it plans to beef up a Falmouth substation that services the Island.
The project, which aims to bolster the grid in Chilmark and Aquinnah, was significantly scaled back from Eversource’s original proposal to install 48 poles along Middle Road last year.
Eversource says it is proposing to build the new electric cable, as well as replace one of the existing ones, in order to deliver reliable and safe electricity.
Opposition to the use of herbicides around Eversource power lines continued at a meeting of the West Tisbury select board on Wednesday night, when the board determined to send a letter opposing the practice to the state.
The utility giant is positioned this fall to begin work on a project that will run two new 23-kilovolt power cables to Martha’s Vineyard, eliminating the need for diesel generators.
A brief power outage affected thousands of Eversource customers on the Vineyard Thursday morning before service was quickly restored.
