3MW windturbines 90MW project. Move out?

[dave1949]

One more piece of data I found looking through the documentation I saved about our wind turbine ordinance. (You never know when the residents may take up pitchforks and hunt down the ordinance committee members. :laughing

We commissioned a very low-cost sound study by an acoustic engineer. He used ISO 9613-2 to model sound propagation with frozen ground and maximum propagation conditions. He added 2 dBA to the modeled results as an "uncertainty factor."

His results indicate 37 dBA at 2000' for one turbine, and 43 dBA for three equidistant turbines at 2000'. At 4000' those values are 32 dBA and 36 dBA respectively. At 6000' the values are 27 dBA and 32 dBA.

On the other hand, a credible-sounding freelance acoustic engineer measured (not modeled) 52 dBA at a distance of 2050' for three turbines on-site at a turbine project in Freedom, Maine.

For perspective, these are some representative dBA sound levels:
quiet room 40 dBA
whispered speech 43 dBA
normal conversation @ 1 meter 60 dBA

The confusing part of turbine sound measurements is the frequency profile of a typical turbine and which decibel measurement scale is used. The dBA scale is described as approximating human ear sound level perception at various frequencies. Compared to the uncompensated dBC scale, the dBA scale under-weights low frequencies sound pressure (20-200 Hz) typical to turbines by quite a bit: 40 decibels at 31 Hz, and 10 decibels at 250 Hz.

Low frequency sounds penetrate wall and windows more than higher frequencies. Think about how far away you can hear those big bass speakers in a car without hearing any of the other higher frequency music content.

There is some medical evidence that those low frequencies, even if below your hearing threshold, can have physiological effects on the body.

 

[MossRoad]

I've been through some huge wind farms in west central Indiana. I drove way out into them, parked the car and got out to listen. The wind in my ears was all I heard. No wooshing, thumping, etc... and I was within a hundred yards of them. However, wherever I looked there was motion. Constant motion. And at night, the red lights on top of them all blink in unison.... so you see 500 red lights on, then off, then on, then off. Its disturbing. And you can forget about a nice scenic view of the sunset or sunrise over cornfields ever again. It looks like a science fiction movie come to life. I wouldn't want to live within sight of a wind farm.

 

[oosik]

There is a new "wind farm" (30 units) about 40 miles SE of my property. It has been built right next to a major interstate N/S highway. Drove past it in both directions about a month ago. There was no detectable noise - but HOLY COW - the distraction due to the blade rotation was unbelievable. I'm more than sure this distraction will cause major auto accidents. The distraction of the white blades and once you are down wind the distraction of the rotating shadows. I foresee major problems in the future.

 

[moeh1]

I'm next door to 3 of them ( they are either 2 or 2.5 MW). They are on a ridge, so above me. Closest one is just over a half mile. Modeled sound values aren't close to actual - we shouldn't even "notice them" but I can get sound meter reading in excess of 50 DB on my property. We get constant noise, red blinkers at night and flicker in the morning, with the only benefit being a miniscule tax reduction that is shared by everyone in the town. Too much blood and sweat in my place to move, can't wait for them to fall over or wear out. Hunting hasn't been the same since they started up, but the deer finally seem to be adapting after 5 or 6 years. Oh yeah, country roads weren't built for the big loads needed to build them, so its trashed. I put new suspension parts in a farily new car annually.

 

[Bladehauler]

I've been hauling the turbine blades for 8 years now, and on some blade replacement projects , only while standing at the base of an operating turbine could I hear the blades make any noise over the wind noise.
the disturbing part for me would be the aircraft warning lights at night .

 

[Markcuda]

can't wait for them to fall over or wear out

I don't think that will be any time soon :laughing:
In my town of 8000, we have a factory that builds the towers (Trinity Structural Towers)

 

[CobyRupert]

IMO: From more than 3/4 of a mile away they don't bother me and seem environmental friendly, quaint, green, blah blah blah. The unison blinking at night is disturbing. The worse (except for noise if you live next to one) is when you can only see the top blade of one do a 180 degree arc above a tree line, when the rest of the unit is hid. Seeeing it out of the corner of your eye your brain (& pulse & adrenaline) is CONSTANTLY thinking it's seeing the wing of a 747 crashing into the woods (over and over again). Disturbing.

The problem with solar and wind power is that it's intermittent and not always compatible to the peaks and valleys of human usage patterns. Ways to store mega- & gigawatts-hrs need to be developed. (Compressed air in mine-shafts, run pumps for hydro-storage behind a dam, giant-high-speed fly-wheels, create and store hydrogen (fuel cells) etc...) Another solution is when "Phase III" of "Smart Grid" technology comes along and the power company can have high-tech rolling brownouts. "Hey no wind today. Guess what? We just locked you out of running your Level 3 (non-essential) appliances (air conditioner and jacuzzi) with the data link, but after 8:00 pm your washing mashine will be enabled."

 

[mikehaugen]

I live in the middle of a wind farm. About 300 or more within about 20 miles or so. I barely notice them. The nearest is just over a mile and I don't even know it's there. In fact, even driving near them, I don't hear anything until within about 500 feet... maybe more on a quiet night.

When they were building them, I did a little reading. As mentioned, the shadow flicker is probably the most annoying thing but they know about it and locate them with that in mind. I wouldn't worry too much about them.

 

[Markcuda]

Mike, I use to take the Lee exit, I think for Mendota, we would go to the
ATV dealer, just south of town(Mendota).
It went out of business a few years ago.
But, to the point, you have tons of windmills in your area.

 

[mikehaugen]

Mike, I use to take the Lee exit, I think for Mendota, we would go to the
ATV dealer, just south of town(Mendota).
It went out of business a few years ago.
But, to the point, you have tons of windmills in your area.

Don't know how long it's been since you've been this way, but I moved out here in '08 and there were probably 150. In '09 they built 131 more.