These sites, some of which would have more than a single turbine, would be part of the second phase of Canadian Hydro Developers’ Melancthon Wind Project.

Amaranth’s March 3-4 meetings are under the Planning Act. A public information meeting at Shelburne last night was part of Canadian Hydro’s Environmental Assessment process. For the wind turbines, Amaranth clerk treasurer Sue Stone says the requirement is for what is called an Environmental Study Report (ESR), and meetings for public review of those studies. Depending on the responses and/or concerns, additional studies and reviews might be required.

“That’s what they’re doing (at the Shelburne meetings),” she said. The complicating factor surrounding the meetings in three municipalities — Amaranth, Melancthon and Shelburne — is that some are held by Canadian Hydro (for environmental approval) and others by the municipalities (Amaranth and Melancthon) for zoning changes. There’s an expectation that all will have been completed in the near future.

In the meantime, Frank Entwisle of Adjala, who successfully spearheaded opposition to turbines in Mono, says the public isn’t well-enough informed about the projects.

Among other things, Mr. Entwisle, in a telephone call to this newspaper, cited noise. He maintained that the turbines produce more noise than the province allows. However, one expert study indicates that the noise from the turbines is actually less than many background noises.

Source/ Indicative noise Activity level aB (A)
Threshold of hearing . . . . . . . . . . 0
Rural nighttime background . .20-40
Quiet bedroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Wind farm at 350m . . . . . . . . .35-45
Car, 40 mph at 100m . . . . . . . . . . 55
Busy general office . . . . . . . . . .60
Truck, 30 mph at 100m . . . . . . . . 65
Pneumatic drill at 7m . . . . . . . . . . 95
Jet aircraft at 250m . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Threshold of pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Information taken from The Scottish Office, Environment Department, Planning Advice Note, PAN 45, Annes A: Wind Power, A.27. Renewable Energy Technologies, August 1994

As the table shows, the sound of a working wind farm is actually less than normal road traffic or an office. Even when wind speed increases, it is difficult to detect any increase in turbine sound above the increase in normal background sound, such as the noise the wind itself makes and the rustling of trees.

According to other available information, the original turbines of a few decades ago were, in fact, noisy. One study shows that there were about 80 manufacturers of those “clunkers,” and all but three of those manufacturers are no longer in business.

The Clinton Ohio police department investigated a turbine-related noise complaint recently, but found that the noise level from the turbines at about 100 metres was less than from a nearby copse at 300 metres.

What the experts do acknowledge is that everything has a distinctive sound. People generally are less aware of ambient noises than they are of new sounds.