Ocean Gate turbine noise probed

OCEAN GATE - The borough's wind turbine has become a lightning rod.

First praised as innovative, the turbine has since been criticized by several residents for its noise pollution. Now, those residents are still debating the turbine's value as Ocean County Health Department officials investigate noise complaints.

Mayor Paul J. Kennedy said the borough was told by the health department on April 16 that all tests conducted in the borough between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. did not exceed the daytime standard for noise.

But when similar tests were conducted between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. to determine compliance with nighttime standards, health department officials determined the noise standard might have been exceeded at one testing location.

"The borough has not been issued any notice of violation and has not been ordered or directed to shut down the wind turbine," Kennedy said in a prepared statement. "Any findings and conclusions of the OCHD will be released to the public as soon as practical after they are received."

John Clayton, assistant health educator for the county health department, confirmed the details in Kennedy's statement, and said the department is waiting for a night with at least 8-12 mph wind to test the turbine's noise levels again.

"The health department did recommend to turn it off at night," he said. "There are no mandates from the health department at this time and if there are, Ocean Gate will follow those."

Even if the turbine is within noise standards, that still might be too loud for some residents.

"It's like standing next to it because I'm so close to it," said Lori Ditzel of 804 Ocean Gate Ave., who lives across the street from the turbine. "It's only gotten worse, and I would think more residents would be upset. You want to enjoy your backyard and you can't."

Ditzel said she was told by a representative of the health department that it would be shut off in the evenings.

"It's good that we're finally getting some validation to our complaints. Everybody's been turning this into something political and it's not," she said.

"I think the mayor and council do a great job most of the time. But when it comes to the turbine, the noise is real, and they're not acting on it. Now we have proof. It's not political, it's a quality of life issue."

Kennedy said in his statement that the borough is evaluating a voluntary shutdown of the turbine from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. while the investigation and studies continue. The Borough Council has unanimously agreed to continue the operation of the turbine.