Wind turbine backlash article

[SpringHollow]

There is so much misinformation posted on windmills - it really is ridiculous.

There are twenty nine of these that are 430' tall to the tip of the blade near my brother's property.

They are no where near as loud as people make out but do make some noise. They do not kill thousands of birds, bats, etc. (one study says 1.2 birds/year/windmill but my guess is that it is more than that - my guess is there are a few unique locations that would be bad). Ice chunks are not flying all over the place. They help with local economy and taxes.

On the other side, some companies/towns allow them to be located too close to houses. They do not make economic sense without being subsidized but oil is subsidized as well. Not great looking but not terrible either (would much rather have a windmill versus a high tension power line).

Ken

 

[tanglefoot]

I have a Skystream wind turbine which is a residential unit. It has a 12' prop-span. From the research I did, it seemed like it should operate quietly. Mine is 400' from my house and at least twice that far from the nearest neighbor. I don't hear it when I'm inside, but when I go outside on the back porch on a windy day, it has the sound of a siren that is a mile away. Two of the neighbors have made comments that lead me to believe that this noise is bothering them. I can see where it would bother me, too. They moved to the country to enjoy peace and quiet. I intend to take down this unit, and hopefully find one that is quiet.
Butch

 

[dmccarty]

Since we have moved to the country for peace and quiet we have found mostly peace and some quiet. Much more so than in the city. But its not all quiet. Years ago I heard a story about a guy that tries to record the sound of nature. His biggest problem is finding a place to record that is not impacted by human noise. Even though we are somewhat remote we still hear human noise.

A road to our north is a mile away but we can hear traffic most of the time. Its not a real bother but its there. If I sit on the porch on a Friday night I can hear traffic on the road 1/3 mile to our south. You can tell who is going to town and who is returning.

To our SW is a church and they can be a lively bunch. They are 1/3 mile away through the woods but I can hear them if I am outside. We don't mind their "noise" but I sure do not like picking up the mylar balloons that escape from their parties. There are a couple hanging in one of our tree that will take a tall ladder to access.

Most of this "noise" is intermittent and not really noticable except that it is so quiet. If someone had a windmill that was operating most of the time and I could hear it on my land we would not be happy campers.

Later,
Dan

 

[Redneck in training]

I have a Skystream wind turbine which is a residential unit. It has a 12' prop-span. From the research I did, it seemed like it should operate quietly. Mine is 400' from my house and at least twice that far from the nearest neighbor. I don't hear it when I'm inside, but when I go outside on the back porch on a windy day, it has the sound of a siren that is a mile away. Two of the neighbors have made comments that lead me to believe that this noise is bothering them. I can see where it would bother me, too. They moved to the country to enjoy peace and quiet. I intend to take down this unit, and hopefully find one that is quiet.
Butch

Small turbines are high speed and could emmit high pitch noise. Bigger turbines or those with many blades are turning slower and I am guessing would be quieter.

 

[riptides]

(would much rather have a windmill versus a high tension power line).

Amen!

We were in/are in a dispute with a power company all the way to the tri-State area.
The power companies have thrown everything one can imagine at the process. The interesting thing is that while the process is in the courts, they have managed to "upgrade" existing ROWS, to exactly what is being fought over in the courts. The entire situation makes a mockery of property owners rights, locality laws, and even states rights.
In the national interest, you know. Bah....Humbug.... I say.

 

[JimWalch]

Anyone in the centeral Illinois area on Saturday the 25th they are having an open house for a new turbine that is just coming on line, more info here Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives

Dave

My brother farms the ground just to the south of this turbine (less than a 1/4 mile) and I have never herd any noise or felt any vibration from it.

I am all for them in fact I would let them put one on our 8 ac. if they would let me have some electricity!