Their joint report stated that low-frequency noise including sounds below the threshold of audibility constitutes "a serious issue, possibly affecting the future of the industry," adding, "It should be addressed beyond the present practice of showing that wind turbine levels are magnitudes below the threshold of hearing at low frequencies."
Their joint report stated that low-frequency noise including sounds below the threshold of audibility constitutes "a serious issue, possibly affecting the future of the industry," adding, "It should be addressed beyond the present practice of showing that wind turbine levels are magnitudes below the threshold of hearing at low frequencies."
An inconclusive survey of noises from a wind farm near Green Bay and allegedly related health effects has intensified arguments before the Public Service Commission as the deadline nears for its decision on a proposed wind project in St. Croix County.
This week, the Brown County Board of Health pondering creation of a low-frequency noise ordinance was the latest development in a controversy playing out on opposite sides of the state and dating to 2010. That year, the first of three Brown County families to abandon their homes moved out, blaming ill health on the eight turbines of the Shirley Wind Farm-and the Shirley facility's developer, Washington County-based Emerging Energies of Wisconsin, concluded an agreement on siting details …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]An inconclusive survey of noises from a wind farm near Green Bay and allegedly related health effects has intensified arguments before the Public Service Commission as the deadline nears for its decision on a proposed wind project in St. Croix County.
This week, the Brown County Board of Health pondering creation of a low-frequency noise ordinance was the latest development in a controversy playing out on opposite sides of the state and dating to 2010. That year, the first of three Brown County families to abandon their homes moved out, blaming ill health on the eight turbines of the Shirley Wind Farm-and the Shirley facility's developer, Washington County-based Emerging Energies of Wisconsin, concluded an agreement on siting details for a much larger project with the St. Croix County Town of Forest.
That agreement led to recall elections ousting the entire town board when the members were seen to have financial interests in the proposed Highland Wind Farm's turbine placements. Since then, a new board rescinded the agreement, the developer filed a $25 million damage claim against the town, the project was expanded slightly to reach the commission's (PSC) 100-megawatt jurisdictional threshold in effect at the time-thus bypassing any local siting ordinance-and the damage claim was dropped.
Now, with the PSC's 360-day window to review the Highland proposal closing in the third week of March, the acoustical evaluation of sounds generated by Shirley Wind has turned up the volume of debate.
Just after Christmas, the environmental group Clean Wisconsin filed with the PSC a report on low-frequency noise at Shirley Wind. Prepared by acoustical consultants from California, Illinois, Maine, and Virginia, it measured sounds-some below the level of detection by human ears-that many people blame for adverse health impacts.
A mid-December filing by the Town of Forest opposing Highland Wind listed sleep disturbances, nausea, ear and joint pain, and headaches among afflictions nearby residents have blamed on Shirley Wind. Tuesday's Green Bay Press Gazette said about 50 of Shirley Wind's neighbors have filed affidavits to that effect with the PSC.
But consultants on the Shirley study reported widely varying conclusions. Some detected turbine noise outdoors at all the vacated residences, some only at one or two. Some detected turbine noise indoors and others did not.
However, their joint report stated that low-frequency noise including sounds below the threshold of audibility constitutes "a serious issue, possibly affecting the future of the industry," adding, "It should be addressed beyond the present practice of showing that wind turbine levels are magnitudes below the threshold of hearing at low frequencies."
Highland Wind may utilize 41 Nordex 100 turbines, the same as those at the Shirley facility, spread over 26,500 acres (41 square miles), for a potential generation capacity of 102 megawatts.
Forest Voice, a local group opposing Highland Wind, filed a PSC brief saying Clean Wisconsin edited the Shirley acoustical report, deleting one consultant's recommendations for avoiding or mitigating potential noise problems at Highland Wind.
Clean Wisconsin replied last Thursday with a brief accusing the Town of Forest and Forest Voice of "misrepresentation" and deliberate misstatements of the consultant's prior testimony. But in a new filing Tuesday, Clean Wisconsin acknowledged deleting the recommendations, saying it had been directed to do so by PSC staff who wanted material relevant to Highland Wind presented as testimony in that case, not as part of the Shirley Wind study.
Last week, State Rep. Andre Jacque (R-De Pere) asked the PSC for an emergency rule suspending wind-farm permitting, and the Madison law firm of Garvey McNeil and Associates-representing Forest Voice-issued a press release saying the Shirley study found low frequency noise "a serious threat," while a Clean Wisconsin press release said the study found "no link between wind farm sound and health impacts."
On Monday Forest Voice asked for a new Highland Wind environmental assessment, arguing it's required by PSC rules because the Shirley study provides new information about effects on the human environment. If a new assessment can't be completed by the March deadline, Forest Voice said, the PSC should deny Highland's application and allow the developers to reapply.
Tuesday's Press Gazette quoted Clean Wisconsin Legal Counsel Katie Nekola saying the Shirley study "found nothing," adding that a Brown County noise ordinance would be "jumping the gun...a real mistake."
Source:http://bit.ly/Condenser11113