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Ocean Gate turbine creates storm

Asbury Park Press|Chelsea Michels|March 2, 2010
New JerseyGeneral

Ditzel is one of a small group of residents who have been unhappy with Ocean Gate's new wind turbine. ...It was built in November across the street from Ditzel's home. She said she has been tormented by the near-constant sound of the turbine's "scraping and swooshing" and a flickering, strobe-light effect from the sun reflecting off its rotating blades.


OCEAN GATE - When Lori Ditzel moved to the small riverfront borough three years ago, she and her husband purchased what she considered their "forever home."

"When I moved here, I told myself I was never moving again. That really was our plan," said Ditzel, 40, of 804 Ocean Gate Ave. "Now that's not really in the plans anymore."

Ditzel is one of a small group of residents who have been unhappy with Ocean Gate's new wind turbine, the first one in the state run by a municipality.

It was built in November across the street from Ditzel's home. She said she has been tormented by the near-constant sound of the turbine's "scraping and swooshing" and a flickering, strobe-light effect from the sun reflecting off its rotating blades.

... more [truncated due to possible copyright]

OCEAN GATE - When Lori Ditzel moved to the small riverfront borough three years ago, she and her husband purchased what she considered their "forever home."

"When I moved here, I told myself I was never moving again. That really was our plan," said Ditzel, 40, of 804 Ocean Gate Ave. "Now that's not really in the plans anymore."

Ditzel is one of a small group of residents who have been unhappy with Ocean Gate's new wind turbine, the first one in the state run by a municipality.

It was built in November across the street from Ditzel's home. She said she has been tormented by the near-constant sound of the turbine's "scraping and swooshing" and a flickering, strobe-light effect from the sun reflecting off its rotating blades.

Borough officials began their campaign for wind power in 2007, hoping it would create renewable energy and save the borough money on electrical bills.

Government officials are in the process of building a second municipal turbine, a move that resident Kate Ranuro hopes to obstruct.

"I think anybody could get used to anything, but I don't choose to get used to it," said Ranuro, 64, of 610 Ocean Gate Ave. "I feel like I live in a factory when the turbine is running."

Ranuro argues the turbine emits noise louder than the decibel levels allowed by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Residents also say they fear a loss in property values and that the turbine is an eyesore.

In response to residents' complaints about the turbine noise, the Ocean County Health Department conducted tests Feb. 19 at the site and found the volume did not violate daytime state standards, department spokeswoman Leslie Terjesen said. However, nighttime standards are 15 decibels lower, and the turbine has not been tested in the evening.

"If people have complaints of any specific time, they can give their address and we'll assign someone to go down and go to their house," Terjesen said. "We're working very closely with the borough of Ocean Gate."

Other residents have come forward touting the potential benefits - financial and environmental - of having a turbine.

"(Keep) in mind that this is a project for tomorrow and not necessarily today," said Michael Passeri of Red Bank Avenue, an 18-year resident of the borough.

Anglesea Avenue resident Craig Kuhn also supports the turbine.

"The turbine can barely be heard a block away," he said.

Mayor Paul J. Kennedy said residents opposed to the turbine can "say whatever they want. . . . But I have to protect the borough's best interest. Part of it is because they're playing politics with me, and the other part is that they don't want it here."

But across from borough hall, Ditzel said she struggles to find ways to work in her home office or even sleep at night, while distracted by the noise.

"On one hand, I applaud them for being green and doing something to help the environment, but where they put it is not a feasible place," Ditzel said. "I got married here in Ocean Gate, I considered this my forever home. It's very emotional that I don't feel the same way about the town anymore."


Source:http://www.app.com/article/20…

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