Night noise guidelines for Europe
The WHO Regional Office for Europe launched these updated Night noise guidelines for Europe. The guidelines provide ground-breaking evidence on how exposure to night noise can damage people's health, and recommends guideline levels to protect health.
The new limit is an annual average night exposure not exceeding 40 decibels...
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Economic impacts from the promotion of renewable energies: The German experience
Abstract:
The allure of an environmentally benign, abundant, and cost-effective energy source has led an increasing number of industrialized countries to back public financing of renewable energies. Germany’s experience with renewable energy promotion is often cited as a model to be replicated elsewhere, being based on a combination of far-reaching energy...
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San Saba County resolution concerning transmission line siting
The County Commissioners of San Saba County, Texas approved Resolution #2009-07 concerning the appropriate transmission line route from Brown to Newton County. This action was taken at the behest of residents in the county who expressed concerned about the impacts of 345 KV line needed to deliver West Texas wind...
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Plaintiffs' reply and pretrial brief opposing Beech Ridge Energy LLC
The Animal Welfare Institute, Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, and others submitted this pretrial brief and supporting reply briefs in their law suit opposing the Beech Ridge wind energy facility to be located in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. These briefs show that the developer, Beech Ridge Energy LLC, discovered the...
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Appeal of Maine final order, Record Hill Wind LLC
This appeal was filed by the Concerned Citizens to Save Roxbury ("CCSR") in response to the August 20, 2009 final order issued by Maine's Department of Environmental Protection granting approval for Record Hill Wind LLC to construct a 22-turbine wind energy facility in Roxbury, Maine. The aggrieved parties further request...
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Dr. Michael Nissenbaum affidavit, Record Hill wind appeal
This affidavit by Dr. Michael Nissenbaum was submitted in support of an appeal filed with Maine's Board of Environmental Protection. The aggrieved parties are opposing the final order permitting the Record Hill wind energy facility issued by Maine's Department of Environmental Protection on August 20, 2009. The proposed project will...
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Wind Energy: The case of Denmark
A technical critique of Denmark's wind energy development and operation. A brief summary of the report appears below. The full report can be downloaded by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
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The Wind Farm Scam
In a book released today, Dr. John Etherington - former Reader in Ecology, Thomas Huxley Medallist at the Royal College of Science and former co-editor of the Journal of Ecology - argues that wind farm technology is a wholly counter-productive and undesirable response to the problems of climate change and...
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New Jersey DEP letter to Delsea Energy
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection scientists have opposed wind energy development in the Delaware Bay, which could cut down an Ocean County firm's plans for 106 wind turbines there.
Delsea Energy continues to push for the project and has applied for the right to measure wind and other bay-related data...
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Newell et.al. vs. Libertyville - transcript
The residents of Libertyville, IL struggled since April 2009 with noise and flicker from a 120-foot, 50 kilowatt Entegrity wind turbine erected within 250-feet of residential properties. Following a civil proceeding seeking relief from the noise and other nuisances, the Court issued a compromise ruling ordering turbine operation be restricted...
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Community-based health survey, Ontario
This community based surveillance activity was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Robert McMurtry, the Former Dean of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario. The health survey revealed that out of 76 respondents, 53 people now living near different wind power facilities in Ontario reported that industrial wind turbines...
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Calculating wind power's environmental benefits
It's commonly believed that new wind power generation will displace coal and natural gas-fueled power plants and thereby avoid all their associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The benefits of these avoided emissions have become a major factor in...
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Public health impacts of wind turbines
In late February 2009 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) received a request from the Office of Energy Security (OES) in the Minnesota Department of Commerce, for a “white paper” evaluating possible health effects associated with low frequency vibrations and sound arising from large wind energy conversion systems (LWECS). MDH...
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Wyoming Governor Freudenthal's letter to the State's Wind Energy Task Force
Wyoming's Governor Dave Freudenthal wrote this letter to the legislative Wind Energy Task Force formed in the 2008-2009 session. The Task Force will be studying various aspects of the legal framework surrounding wind energy development including state statutes related to industrial siting and the authority of the Public Service Commission;...
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Background sound measurements and analysis in the vicinity of Cape Vincent, NY
Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., was invited by the residents of Cape Vincent, NY to evaluate the pre-construction noise studies conducted Hessler and Associates. Dr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee...
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Modern wind turbines generate dangerously "Dirty" electricity
Wind turbines are causing serious health problems. These health problems are often associated, by the people having them, with the flicker and the noise from the wind turbines. This often leads to reports being discounted.
Residents of the area around the Ripley Wind Farm in Ontario where Enercon E82 wind...
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Energy Myths and Realities
This speech was delivered at the 22nd Annual Utah Valley University Symposium on Environmental Ethics, held April 1st and 2nd at Utah Valley University. Mr. Keith O. Rattie is the Chairman, President and CEO of Questar Corporation, one of America's fastest-growing natural gas producers. A .pdf version of the speech...
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George Washington National Forest letter to Freedomworks
Freedomworks submitted a proposal for erect three meteorological towers on North Mountain in the George Washington National Forest. The request was in in early December, however the company's plans were known for about one year ago.
The forest supervisor, Maureen Hyzer denied the request in this April 2 letter. Reasons for...
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Cohocton, NY town supervisor letter to First Wind on turbine noise
Cohocton, NY permitted First Wind (formerly UPC Wind) to construct two wind energy facilities in the town on private land. Noise complaints started almost immediately after the turbines became operational. Windaction.org has been notified that the below letter was sent by Cohocton's town supervisor to First Wind.
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Paper: Green jobs myths
In this Article, the authors survey the green jobs literature, analyze its assumptions, and show how the special interest groups promoting the idea of green jobs have embedded dubious assumptions and techniques within their analyses. Before undertaking efforts to restructure and possibly impoverish our society, careful analysis and informed public...
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Audubon Society of NH comments regarding Coos County wind proposal
The Audubon Society of New Hampshire submitted comments to the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee in response to a proposal pending before the committee. The proposal, known as the Granite Reliable Power (GRP, LLC) Wind Park, seeks to erect thirty-three 3.0MW turbines along the Kelsey, Owlshead, and Dixville peaks located...
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Impact of wind turbines on market value of Texas rural land
This report was prepared for a presentation given at the South Plains Agriculture Wind & Wildlife Conference in Lubbock, Texas on February 13, 2009. The findings and conclusions contained herein are the exclusive property of Gardner Appraisal Group, Inc., and cannot be re-produced without the express written permission of Gardner...
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Guidelines for conducting bird and bat studies at commerical wind energy projects
These guidelines, prepared by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, set forth recommendations to commercial wind energy
developers on how to characterize bird and bat resources at on-shore wind energy sites, and how
to estimate and document impacts resulting from the construction...
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NH Fish and Game comments on proposed wind facility
Noble Environmental, operating under the name Granite Reliable Power, LLC is proposing to erect a 99 MW wind energy facility in northern New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Fish and Game has submitted prefiled testimony to the State's Site Evaluation Committee expressing its concerns with the impacts to wildlife.
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Risø DTU final report regarding Vestas windmill damage (Feb 22-23, 2008)
Following the catastrophic failure of two Vestas wind turbines on Feb 22 and 23, 2008, the Danish energy agency requested an investigation into the events. A report was produced by engineers at Risø DTU. Below is the report translated into English. The original report, in Danish, can be accessed by...
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Capacity factor of wind power: Realized Values vs. Estimates
For two decades, the capacity factor of wind power measuring the mean energy delivered by wind turbines has been assumed at 35% of the name plate capacity. Yet, the mean realized value for Europe over the last five years is closer to 21% thus making levelized cost 66% higher than...
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Texas wind energy: Past, Present, and Future
Policy analyst and attorney, Drew Thornley, of the Texas Public Policy Foundation examines the growth of wind energy in Texas over the last decade. While many policymakers and business leaders foresee wind as a major contributor to America’s electricity supply, his report identifies several practical obstacles that stand in the...
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In defense of larger setbacks -- a letter from Martha Young (PA)
The following information was submitted to the Potter County Commissioners of Potter County Pennsylvania during their regular meeting on September 25, 2008. Martha Young appeared before the Commissioners to request a 1-mile setback from non-participating landowner property lines. Prior to her submission, Ms. Young searched for documentation to defend her...
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A national renewable portfolio standard? Not Practical
Impatience to solve current problems has resulted in aggressive RPSs with strict deadlines. Although we agree that renewable technologies will help attain social goals, mandating rapid, massive deployment of these technologies will result in high cost, disputes over land use, and unreliable electricity, leading to a public backlash against these...
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Flight for Life policy on flying near windfarms
Flight for Life issued a notice to local law enforcement agencies and fire departments in Wisconsin advising them that they will not transfer patients from areas where wind turbines are located. The wording on the notice is below. A copy of the notice can be downloaded by clicking on...
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Simple guidelines for siting wind turbines to prevent health risks
This paper, prepared by community noise experts George Kamperman and Richard R. James, was presented at the 2008 International Noise Conference held in Dearborn, Michigan. The abstract of the paper appears below. The full body of the report can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
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Real property value protection plan agreement
This agreement was drafted by attorneys in the State of Illinois. If adopted as a condition of approving a wind energy facility, the agreement would guarantee property value protections for landowners whose property is located within the footprint of the project site.
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Amplitude modulation of wind turbine noise: a review of the evidence
Many of the complaints in the UK relating to wind farm noise appear to be due to the amplitude modulation (AM) of the aerodynamic noise from the blades, sometimes referred to as "swish" or "thump". Dick Bowdler explores the existing evidence and summarizes how the totality of what people experience...
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Will British weather provide reliable electricity?
This important research paper analyzes the power output characteristics of the wind energy generation supply in Britain over an extended period of time. The abstract and conclusion of the paper are shown below. To access the full report which includes many graphs of data, click on the link at the...
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NY PSC recommended decision: Iberdrola S.A. intent to acquire Energy East Corporation
Administrative Law Judge, Rafael A. Epstein has handed down his recommended decision on whether Iberdrola, S.A. should be permitted to acquireEnergy East Corporation and its subsidiaries. Judge Epstein's primary recommendation is that the Commission "disapprove the transaction on the ground that it does not satisfy the "public interest" requirement of...
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MA DPU Chairman memo and comments to the ISO New England
Memo from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Chairman, Paul Hibbard, to the ISO New England. Chairman Hibbard expresses his concerns over the push to regionalize costs for building expensive transmission lines to service renewable projects (wind) built far from load centers. Current FERC rules are unclear on how to...
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Roxbury petition: moratorium on wind developement, related documents
Concerned Citizens to Save Roxbury have petitioned the Roxbury, ME selectboard to hold a special meeting to determine whether the voters would support a 180-day moratorium on wind energy development. The petition filed with the selectboard and other related documents are detailed below. All documents can be accessed in full...
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Brownsville, WI family diary: living with turbines (Part II)
The Brownsville Diary: Entries of a noise log kept by a Brownsville, Wisconsin family living 3/4 miles east of South Byron in Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin. The new wind turbines have just gone on line there. This log covers the time period from Apr 28, 2008 to May 13,...
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Proposed wind turbine siting sound limits
These guidelines developed by sound experts, George W. Kamperman and Richard R. James, are included in a paper they will be presenting at the NOISE-CON 2008 conference in Dearborn, MI 2008 July 28-31.
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Stull vs. Gamesa Energy USA LLC and Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm, LLC
Todd and Jill Stull filed a complaint for damages and injunctive relief against Gamesa and Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm LLC (Babcock and Brown) due to excessive noise, flicker and other nuisance that are causing irreparable harm to the Plaintiffs and robbing them of their enjoyment of their property. A portion...
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Michael McCann testimony re: Rail Splitter wind energy facility
Testimony of Mr. Michael McCann, a certified general real estate appraiser with 28-years experience appraising residential and commercial property. Mr. McCann addresses the possible impacts of wind turbine development on residential properties located within 1500-feet of the turbines. His full testimony can be read by clicking on the link at...
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Richard James testimony re: Rail Splitter wind energy facility
Richard James is a noise control consultant and acoustical consultant with E-Coustic Solutions in Michigan. In his testimony before the Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals in IL, Mr. James addresses the noise study conducted by Horizon Wind for the Rail Splitter wind energy proposal. His testimony can be accessed...
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National renewable portfolio standard: Smart policy or misguided gesture?
This document by Professor Robert J. Michaels and published in Energy Law Journal provides an economist's perspective on a National Renewable Portfolio Standard as considered by the U.S. Government. The synopsis of the document appears below. The full paper can be downloaded by clicking on one of the links below.
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Allegheny Ridge wind farm road impacts
This document includes on-the-ground photos of the Allegheny Ridge wind farm in Pennsylvania which show the extent of land impacted by road development. The degree of clearing shown is typical for ridgeline wind energy development; however, as stated below, the clearing does not reflect pre-approval assertions made by the developer....
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DeWayne Wilkie health assessment report
Mr. DeWayne Wilkie of Jefferson County, NY was seen by a cardiologist in March 2008. Dr. Carroll Moody assessed Mr. Wilkie's health and from a cardiovascular standpoint, declared Mr. Wilkie 'stable'. Dr. Moody also includes information in the report on how wind turbine noise might affect the pace maker inserted...
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Behavioral responses of bats to operating wind turbines
ABSTRACT: Wind power is one of the fastest growing sectors of the energy industry. Recent studies have reported large numbers of migratory tree-roosting bats being killed at utility-scale wind power facilities, especially in the eastern United States. We used thermal infrared (TIR) cameras to assess the flight behavior of...
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Bird fatality study at Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA)
The current management goal for the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) is to significantly and substantially reduce the fatalities of birds resulting from collisions with the wind turbines and other turbine-related incidents. This is the first report on bird/bat mortality rates at the APWRA since the management plan was...
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Gail Mair: Italian wind farm diary
This 12-month diary (January 2007 through December 2007) was compiled by Gail Mair. Mrs. Mair lives with her husband Walter in Tuscany, Italy. Gail (fluent in English, German, and Italian) and Walter (a native of Italy) bought this piece of property some years ago and, in October 2006, moved into...
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Extreme wind speed: risk and mitigation
This short GE Energy document explains the risk in the event of extreme wind conditions including hurricane or tornado and any mitigation. Note, the document acknowledges the risk of blade throws and tower collapse.
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Question and answer session with Ray Slavik EMS pilot retired
This interview with retired EMS pilot Ray Slavik was submitted to the Calumet County Ad Hoc Committee researching proposed ordinances governing the placement of wind turbines in the county. The interview provides important insight into controling an aircraft in the vicinity of utility-scale turbines.
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What have I done?
This compelling message appeared in an advertisement run in the October 25, 2007 issue of the Times-Journal newspaper in Wisconsin. A .pdf copy of the ad can be accessed by clicking on the below link. IWA has authenticated this ad. It was written by Don Bangart of Chilton, Wisconsin following...
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Communicating the noise effects of wind farms to stakeholders
This paper, presented at NOISE-CON 2007, explains methods of communicating the noise effects of wind farms to decision-makers and the general public. Below is the abstract of the paper. The full document can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
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Noise pollution from wind turbines
Julian and Jane Davis reside on a farm in the Fens in Lincolnshire England. Shortly following the construction of a wind farm within 1000 meters of their home they had started to hear the noise of the turbines. This important paper, presented at the Wind Turbine Noise conference Sep 20-21,...
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Wind farm noise and regulations in the eastern United States
This paper was presented at the 2nd international meeting on Wind Turbine Noise held in Lyon, France, September 20 - 21, 2007. The authors, Hilkat Soysal and Oguz Soysal are with the Department of Physics and Engineering at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, MD.
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Data and facts relating to Wind Power in Germany
E.ON Netz GmbH manages 7600 megawatts of wind generation in Germany, representing 41% of the installed capacity for wind in the country. According to this report, wind operated at 18% capacity on average, with the lowest generation of 8 megawatts occurring in May 2005.
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"Wind turbines don't make good neighbors"
Researched and written by Eleanor Tillinghast of Green Berkshires Inc. this is a comprehensive study of the probable impact of industrial wind plants on the rural character, quality-of-life and economy of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Specific issues addressed include visual aesthetics, tourism, property values, public roads and public safety....
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