In Vinalhaven, a small island community off the coast of central Maine, the recent installation of three massive wind towers was hailed by residents and developers as the answer to the island's energy woes, but as soon as the turbines started turning this past November, some local residents began to regret what they now feel was a "devil's bargain." In the first days of operation, many of the surrounding property owners - there are 15 within a half mile of the towers - were shocked to find that the sound of the giant propellers' turning was far more audible and intrusive than developers led them to believe it would be. They reported hearing a noise described variably as "whooshing," "roaring," "thumping" and "grinding" at all hours, even from inside their homes with the windows closed. Some compared it to living in the vicinity of a highway or airport, and one... [continue via Web link]