This paper recommends a number of 'best practices' for measuring noise created by industrial wind turbines.

As imperiled bird populations continue to increase, new challenges arise from the effects of growing numbers of communication towers, power lines, commercial wind facilities, and buildings. This paper briefly reviews steps the USFWS is taking to seriously address structural impacts to migratory birds. New findings will be briefly reviewed that address lighting impacts, new challenges facing birds from tower radiation, and collision and habitat fragmentation effects on avifauna.

The township of Holland in northeastern Wisconsin recently drafted an ordinance to protect the health and safety of its residents from Invenergy LLC's proposed plan to build industrial wind turbines within 1000 ft. of residences. After extensive study and review of wind turbines and their effects on people, wildlife, farm animals, and land, the town wind study committee, planning commission, and town board unanimously approved increasing the set-back to 2640ft(1/2 mile) from occupied structures and limiting noise to a maximum of 35 decibels. A summary of the ordinance is below. The full ordinance can be accessed by clicking on the link(s) at the bottom of the page.

The Town of Litchfield, New York adopted this comprehensive wind energy ordinance including detailed finding of fact to substantiate the siting standards codified in the law.

The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents and property owners of Phillips by establishing reasonable and uniform regulations for Wind Energy Facilities (WEFs). The comprehensive setback standards detailed in the ordinance protect against the hazards of a) Falling and Debris Hazard, b) Flicker Hazard, and c) Acoustic Hazard.

At the August 4, 2008 town meeting, the Town of Ridgeville located in Monroe County Wisconsin passed a wind ordinance to govern placement of wind energy turbines in the town. Section VI of the ordinance establishes the development and performance standards to be adhered to, including turbine sound limits and setbacks. The full ordinance can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

In order for the Public Service Board to concur with UPC's conclusion that the UPC proposed wind turbine project will not unduly interfere with orderly growth in the region, the Board must ignore the overwhelming, consistent and corroborating evidence in this recored that the vast majority of the citizens of the Northeast Kingdom are opposed to large-scale, industrial-sized commercial wind development.

TransCanada appealed the decision rendered the MA Department of Public Utilities that approved the power puchase agreement negotiated between National Grid and Cape Wind. The document filed with the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts can be downloaded from this page.

TransCanada Power, an energy supplier that also owns a Maine wind farm, is challenging a state law that requires utilities to buy their future renewable energy from Massachusetts-based firms. Download the filing by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.