A clear explanation of wind turbine noise and its effects

From the website: The Energy Collective, by Willem Post

WIND TURBINE INFRASOUND AND LOW FREQUENCY NOISE

The von Trapp family came to Vermont, because it reminded them of Austria, where “the hills are alive with the sounds of music”. Those sounds will soon be replaced by the health-damaging infrasound and low frequency noise from 3 MW wind turbines on 2,000-ft high ridgelines, courtesy of GMP/Gaz-Metro-Canada.

GMPs 21 wind turbines of the Lowell Mountain facility will emit various noises, such as: 

Setbacks from Fox Islands Wind: no shared sacrifice with turbine noise on Vinalhaven

Blown Away: Big Wind’s Inconvenient Truth

Blown Away: Big Wind’s Inconvenient Truth, by Alan Farago

(Counterpunch, Feb 10, 2012) The installation of wind turbines too close to houses and personal property is a major headache for the wind power industry, but headache scarcely begins to describe their impact to nearby property owners and neighbors. My property and home are scarcely three quarters of a mile from a three 1.5 megawatt turbine wind farm that went online in November 2009 with blades stretching nearly 400 feet into the air.

In all likelihood you are paying more for electricity now, than if the turbines had not been built

Just the facts: Vinalhaven wind turbine noise complaint in Maine Superior Court

(The following is an update, as of April 12, 2012) More than two years after wind turbine blades began spinning on Vinalhaven, the lives of some residents are still being disrupted by excessive noise. Finally, a Maine Superior Court will hear the Amended Petition for Review and Motion for Future Course of Proceedings.  For those interested to learn the facts, click here: Vinalhaven Neighbors’ History of Wind Turbine Legal Issues.

Of the case before the Superior Court, Rufus E. Brown, Esq., attorney for the petitioners, writes: ”The issue at this juncture is whether the provisions in the Wind Energy Act dealing with small -scale wind projects precludes judicial review of an compliance order issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, following a valid complaint concerning excessive noise, that has the effect of (1) exempting Fox Islands Wind from any obligation to affirmatively demonstrate that it is operating in compliance with the DEP Noise Rule, (2) exempting FIW from the obligation to disclose operational and meteorological data of the wind project necessary for the Department to assess for itself  whether the Project is operating in compliance with the DEP Noise Rule and (3) preventing neighbors from filing a complaint to the MDEP about excessive noise unless they follow a burdensome and expensive “protocol” that includes a requirement that acoustical expert to evaluate the complaint before it is submitted.  The complaint, supported by a former MDEP regulator who objected to the Order under review and a Freedom of Access request to the Governor’s Office, alleges that the Order was a product of political influence that pressured the Department to ignore the heartfelt complaints by neighbors suffering from excessive noise and override the professional judgment of Department regulators that the Project was not operating in compliance with the law.  The complaint further alleges that this pressure was instigated with the assistance of the same Portland Maine law firm that the Commissioner had worked for as an industry lobbyist shortly before she issued the Order under review. The decision by the Superior Court will determine whether residents affected by excessive noise will be allowed to proceed with the merits of their complaint that the Commissioner’s decision was arbitrary, capricious, unfair and a product of political influence.”

For those readers inclined to learn about the underlying economics of wind power: case study in Ontario, two parts

The neighbors of the Vinalhaven wind turbines have never sued Fox Islands Wind or FIEC. Legal costs incurred by FIEC are covered by $.01/kwh surcharge out of about a $.25/kwh rate charge.

Neighbors are in the unenviable position of explaining…

Sumner ME passes more protective wind ordinance than DEP regulates

Pretty amazing: a small Maine community is taking back responsibility from the wind turbine developers and the State of Maine for protecting turbine neighbors. They have examples like Vinalhaven, Mars and Record Hill, that went badly wrong. Some high points from the news report, “It (the ordinance) requires town officials to investigate all complaints and to require compliance with the ordinance. The town can hire needed experts at the developer’s expense. Under DEP guidelines residents must hire their own experts and attorneys to enforce compliance or pursue complaints.” “Voters agreed to let nonresident property owner Chris Dwinal speak. He said the vote was not “for” or “against” wind power but rather was a vote on whether developers were bound by the inadequate DEP guidelines or by an ordinance that protected residents and their property value.”

TOM STANDARD PHOTO

A standing-room-only crowd of 239 voters and visitors were in the Sumner Fire Station on Wednesday night to pass an Industrial Wind Power Ordinance.

Boston Globe: Mass. moves to shut turbine over noise levels

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DAVID L. RYAN/GLOBE STAFF

(By David Abel, May 16) One wind turbine in Falmouth will be turned off, officials said, while the other will continue to operate during the day

For the first time since the state began promoting wind power, environmental officials have recommended shutting down a wind turbine because of elevated noise levels that they described as unacceptable to local residents.

You can download or rent the 2012 movie, “Windfall”

To understand what FIWN has been enduring, watch this 2012 film on wind turbines, impacts and neighbors. “Windfall” exposes the dark side of wind energy development when the residents of a rural upstate New York town consider going green. Now available:

On Amazon: http://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/windfall/id517847764

On iTunes: http://www.amazon.com/Windfall/dp/B007W7O9WY/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1335291182&sr=1-3

Falmouth Board of Health To Take Public Testimony On Health Impacts Of Wind Turbines

“… when she heard that someone had attempted suicide, she decided it was time to take action.”

Wind Turbine Noise and Regulations, explained

On Wind Turbine Noise and Air Pressure Pulses

Willem Post, The Energy Collective

The von Trapp family came to Vermont, because it reminded them of Austria, where “the hills are alive with the sounds of music”. Those sounds will soon be replaced by the health-damaging infrasound and low frequency noise from 3 MW wind turbines on 2,000-ft high ridgelines, courtesy of GMP/Gaz-Metro-Canada.

Rhode Island hears about Vinalhaven: Jamestown decides, not so fast

The Jamestown (RI) Press

Planners delay turbine vote

Commissioners say they lack adequate data to either approve or deny plan

BY PHIL ZAHODIAKIN

(Page 1, April 26, 2012) The progress of Jamestown’s wind turbine initiative stalled last week, as residents argued that the Planning Commission should “slow down” its review of the multimillion dollar plan. The commissioners agreed, delaying their expected vote on the proposal until their concerns are addressed with additional input.

A clear explanation to Congress, the un-truths of the American Wind Energy Association

Please read the testimony of Lisa Linowes to Congress, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, of the Committee of Science, Space and Technology. Ms. Linowes sheds some desperately needed light on the subsidies, their cost, and the misapplication of public policies supporting wind energy. Many of the un-truths used to persuade Vinalhaven of the economic justification of wind power are explained, here: 2012 04 17 Linowes testimony

Monique Aniel: How Maine Was Blind-Sided By Industrial Wind Turbines

Baldacci, not LePage, rushed important law

By Monique Aniel, Special to the BDN

Posted April 12, 2012, at 3:57 p.m.

David Farmer’s recent complaints (“Stress as Republicans play beat the clock,” April 4 column) that Gov. Paul LePage is rushing bills even if “some ideas are not ready for prime time” ring hollow when compared to Gov. John Baldacci’s record.

As a private citizen who has been fighting the “not-so-ready-for-prime-time” idea of industrial wind power for three years, I would like to refresh Mr. Farmer’s memory. Mr. Farmer, Gov. Baldacci’s spokesperson, surely remembers the timeline for the wind act, one of the most destructive pieces of environmental legislation in Maine’s history.

LD 2283 was introduced in the second session of the 123rd Legislature and two weeks later it was enacted by both houses. It was signed by the governor within a week. Here is the timeline from 2008:

Your View: Making light of turbine controversy does Fairhaven residents disservice

Fairhaven Massachusetts – USA
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120412/OPINION/204120314
The 262-foot-high wind turbine looms over the Unitarian Church and Rogers School in Fairhaven, where residents have opposed the location of turbines near homes.

Dawn Devlin lives in Fairhaven.

April 12, 2012 12:00 AM

This letter is a response to Elizabeth Morse Read’s “Technology wins: Luddites, Unite” posted in the Standard-Times on April 10. I am curious as to what other issues, real or imagined, she refers to. I am part of a large group of residents who oppose not wind power in general but the placement of these two industrial turbines in such close proximity to residents.

If Ms. Read did some research on the subject she would find that these industrial turbines are two of the closest turbines of this size to residents in the world. When she speaks of us handing out health care complaint forms and comments that we should spend our time running for office instead, I have to wonder where has she been during the recent town elections.