ABSTRACT

Noise Australia

This important study has identified flaws in the current compliance testing for wind turbine noise and further outlined the methods necessary for identifying and measuring the low-frequency, pulsation that isoften times reported by those impacted by the turbines. Specifically, the "presence of amplitude modulation in the low frequency region, that modulates at an infrasound rate, at or near the threshold of hearing" has been identified and may support the symptoms reported by Dr. Nina Pierpont in her work, Wind Turbine Syndrome. The introduction and conclusion of the paper is provided below. The full paper can be accessed by clicking the links on this page. 

Noise Impact on People Australia

This document presents a useful explanation of wind turbine noise in a way that most lay persons can understand. The full report can be downloaded by clicking the document links on this page.

Impact on People Noise Australia

ABSTRACT

Impact on People Noise Australia

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, conducted detailed studies that measured infrasound emitted from the 60-turbine Red Mesa Wind Farm situated in Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico, USA. The infrasound was found to travel out to 90 KM from the source. The abstract of the paper is provided below. The full paper can be downloaded from the links on this page.

Impact on People Noise Australia / New Zealand USA New Mexico

These documents, secured under the Australian Right to Information (RTI) Act, reveal that warnings from the Queensland Government's own noise expert were not provided to the public or passed on to the Planning Department or the Minister for Planning to inform the wind turbine siting process. Dr Antoine David, the noise expert in the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection provided his superiors with a list of nine points of concern regarding the draft Wind Farm Code. The list of his concerns is provided below and can also be found on page 7 of the attached document. A RTI request revealed that, despite making his concerns known within his department, Dr. David's findings were not forwarded to the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, the department responsible for developing the current draft (version 2) of the Wind Farm Code.

Noise Safety Australia

The Australian Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines, which was established in December 2014, released this final report based on a considerable volume of evidence collected from testimonies around the country and beyond. The committee received written and verbal evidence from State Governments, local councils, various federal government agencies, wind farm operators and manufacturers, country fire authorities, acousticians, medical experts and representatives from various associations and institutes. In addition, many private citizens  had the opportunity to voice their concerns with the planning, consultation, approval, development and operation of wind farms in Australia. The recommendations from both the interim and final reports are provided below. The full reports, both final and interim, can be accessed by clicking the links on this page. In addition, a minority, dissenting report is included.

Impact on People Noise Australia

Dr. McMurtry is Professor Emeritus of Western University in London, Ontario. He has researched and reviewed the health impacts of wind turbines for nearly a decade. He appeared before the Australian Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines on June 29, 2015. The transcript of his appearance is provided below. A full transcript of the day can be found by clicking the link(s) on this page.  

Impact on People Noise Australia

This important letter by the Australian Minister of the Environment declares recognition of the continuing concerns raised by communities over wind project siting and operation. The letter includes two attachments that outline a plan to facilitate addressing wind farm complaints and also examine how the country can move away from builting turbines in favor of other emerging technioogies. The full letter can be accessed by clicking the link on this page.

Pollution Impact on People Australia

Australian Federal Senator John Madigan delivered this powerful speech before the Senate during its deliberation of Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015, a bill that would lower Australia's national target for renewables. In his speech he cites the high cost of supporting the wind industry and the hypocrisy of claims that wind energy lowers electricity rates. His speech is provided in full below and can be accessed at the links on this page. 

Impact on Economy Taxes & Subsidies Australia

Clive and Petrina Gare presented their story before the Australian Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines. The Gares leased their land to a wind developer for 19 turbines to be erected. The nearest turbine was sited about 800 metres away from their home with three towers within approximately one to 1.5 kilometres away. In total, they were paid $200,000 per year for hosting the machines. The construction phase was difficult but when the turbines were placed in service in October 2010, the situation became unbearable. The Gares, and others, gave testimony before the Australian Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines. The full testimony is provided below can be accessed by clicking the links on the page.

Impact on People Noise Australia

Acousticians Paul D. Schomer and George Hessler critiqued, and positively supported Steven Cooper's study of infrasonic emissions at the Cape Bridgewater wind facility. An initial critique is provided below and can be accessed by clicking the links on this page. In addition, Dr. Schomer and Mr. Hessler have supplemented their review with a response to the Australian wind energy supporters who have been critical of Steven Cooper's report. The supplemental commets can also be accessed from this page. 

Noise Australia

Dr Christopher Hanning submitted this testimony to the Australian Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines explaining the impact of turbine noise on sleep. The summary of his testimony is provided below. The full submission can be accessed at the links on this page.

Impact on People Noise Australia

The Acoustic Group’s Principal, Mr Steven Cooper, was commissioned by wind developer Pacific Hydro to undertake an investigation into “noise” emitted at the Cape Bridgewater wind energy facility. Symptoms reported by residents living near the turbines include severe nausea, headaches, ear pressure, inability to concentrate, and severe and debilitating sleep problems. The primary document explaining the study and the results can be downloaded from this page. The full study, including six appendices, can be accessed by clicking the links on this page.

Noise Australia

The U.S. Department of Interior filed a suit against Enel Green Power claiming the company is breaking the law by damaging and destroying rocks that belong to the Osage Nation during the construction of the Osage wind energy facility. This filing submitted by Enel Green Power responds to the law suit. According to the lawsuit, EnelGreen Power will excavate more than 60,000 cubic yards of minerals, which the suit said is considered mining by law.The company is excavating sand, soil and rock, then crushing some of the materials to use as reinforcement for the concrete turbine foundations.The full document can be accessed by clicking the link on this page. 

Legal Australia / New Zealand Oklahoma

This important study examines the noise emissions of an operating wind facility during periods when the turbines are generating electricity and when the turbines are shut off. The abstract of conclusion of the study are provided below. The full study can be accessed at the links on this page. The study found "consistent and significant differences in noise spectra ...for the shutdown and operational cases, particularly for frequencies below 100 Hz. These differences can be observed at distances up to 8.7 km from the wind farm.

Noise Australia

Acoustician, Steven Cooper, has been asked to measure noise emissions at the Cape Bridgewater wind energy facility in Australia following years of noise complaints since the project was placed in service in 2008. Mr Cooper has tested inside three homes near the wind facility over eight weeks, including a two-week shutdown of the turbines. His preliminary report can be accessed by clicking the link(s) on this page. His initial findings are provided below.

Impact on People Noise Australia

This report describes the results of full spectrum acoustic monitoring conducted at a number of homes located between 2 km out to nearly 10km from the Waterloo Wind Energy facility. This monitoring was independent of the that conducted by the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (SA EPA) and was requested by Mrs Mary Morris and other concerned residents in the Waterloo district. The monitoring occurred during the period of the South Australian EPA Acoustic Survey, conducted in mid 2013. The conclusions of the monitoring are provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking the link(s) on this page.

Impact on People Noise Australia

Mauri Johansson, MD, a specialist in Community and Occupational Medicine (including Environmental Medicine) in Denmark, sent this open letter to the heads of the Australian Medical Association in response to the AMA's recent position paper on industrial-scale wind energy where it claimed that "Individuals residing in the vicinity of wind farms who do experience adverse health or well-being, may do so as a consequence of their heightened anxiety or negative perceptions regarding wind farm developments in their area."

Impact on People Australia

Dr. Bruce Rapley filed this response letter with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) objecting to the AMA's position on wind turbine noise that the "available Australian and international evidence does not support the view that the infrasound or low frequency sound generated by wind farms, as they are currently regulated in Australia, causes adverse health effects on populations residing in their vicinity." The concluding paragraphs of the letter are posted below. The full letter can be accessed by clicking the links on this page.

Impact on People Noise Australia