ADVANCE/James McClenathen © 2011 Copyright. No reproduction without permission
Opposing sound experts state cases
Riga Twp. Hall full as wind issues debated
RIGA — Two acoustics experts discussed the sound produced by wind turbines and whether it poses a health threat to nearby residents during a special meeting April 19 at the Riga Fire Hall. Present were members of the Riga Township board and planning commission, dozens of Blissfield area residents, and representatives of both wind energy developers and the Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition (IICC), a local group of wind development opponents.
Peter Guldberg of environmental consulting firm Tech Environmental was first to present. Guldberg’s firm was contracted by Exelon Wind to conduct an acoustics study of the areas in which the developer plans to erect wind turbines.
Guldberg, who has a mathematics degree from MIT and a master’s degree in atmospheric science from the University of Michigan, says he has performed studies on more than 40 wind energy projects and served as an independent consultant for townships where developments have been planned.
Based on the results of the acoustics study he and his team conducted, Guldberg said wind turbines would not significantly change current noise levels in Riga Township. Wind developers Exelon Wind and Great Lakes Wind say sound produced by their wind turbines would not exceed 45 decibels near residences whose owners had not signed easement agreements. Guldberg compared this sound level to a quiet suburban area.
When Guldberg was finished, Kevon Martis, director of the IICC, introduced Rick James, an expert hired by the IICC to speak at the meeting. James has provided acoustics consulting for both companies and communities for over 35 years. Much of his work has dealt with wind turbine noise. James said the sound levels promised by wind developers are insufficient to protect residents from irritation or even certain adverse health effects, including stress and sleep deprivation.
“The characteristic of wind turbine noise is such that people are more annoyed with it than they are with other common community noise sources,” said James. “One of the things that I routinely hear is that people are annoyed by the blade swish. ... It isn’t that it’s so loud. It’s that it’s repetitive and it does not stop. When you have multiple turbines, you then begin to get competing ‘swishes.’ ... This is one of the reasons why it is more annoying.”
According to James, a recent European noise study found that 25 to 33 percent of people are “annoyed” by sound levels of 45 decibels outside their homes, while 10 to 20 percent are “highly annoyed.”
For the full, detailed story from that meeting by James McClenathen, please see the April 27, 2011, edition of The Advance. To subscribe or find a dealer location, please call 517-486-2400. © 2011 All content copyrighted. No reproduction without permission
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Riga Township's proposed wind farm north of the Ohio border is being jeopardized by NIMBYs with funding from outside the township. Groups such as the Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition, Inc. (IICC) have involved themselves into Riga Township politics in an attempt to stop the development of the future wind farm. Spoilers from outside the township worry of lower property values that I would argue have already happened from the loss of Middle Class manufacturing jobs locally. To not embrace our future energy needs away from nuclear power and dirty coal is fool hardy at best. While the fear mongering continues in Riga Township, Bowling Green is about to add three more wind turbines to their farm and we don't hear a peep of protest. The Blissfield Advance has sent their reporter to two different wind farms unannounced. Their findings were a general agreement that the wind farms were good for the area economy, no general uprising or revolt against the turbines. At the recent April 19th Riga Township Special Planning Commission Meeting one attendee did a survey of the audience asking the question, “How many have visited a wind farm?” About five (5) hands raised among the reported two hundred in attendance. Those that have visited have come away with a more positive view of our future in green energy.
Article for reading:
Cities are driving the green economy
May 1, 2011
http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_69308.shtml