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YWI is a Physicist, Machinery and Optical Systems Computer Technology Specialist, Opto-Mechanical Product Development Consultant, Software Development Consultant with world-class expertise in creative synthesis of technologies with an excellent knowledge of mechanical design, optics, electronics and computer software at the product level from embedded systems to user software.
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Wind energy facilities produce a new and distinctive type of noise source that is unfamiliar in rural, mountainous landscape where the turbines are often sited, especially in the eastern regions of the United States. A great deal of noise information has been learned since modern noise pollution concerns were acknowledged with the creation of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) circa 1970. Post-construction noise evaluations for wind energy sites are rare worldwide with only a few published studies having been conducted in Germany and Sweden. As wind facilities become increasingly more common worldwide noise complaints have emerged as one of the dominant wind facility detriments, second only to aesthetics.
UPC Wind Management LLC/ Evergreen Wind Power LLC (UPC) constructed and operates a 28 unit wind facility along a hilltop ridge at Mars Hill, Maine. The wind facility generators are GE 1.5sle models with a nameplate capacity of 1.5 MW for a total installed capacity of 42 MW. Residents living near the turbines filed noise complaints with the State of Maine shortly after only a few of the turbines became operational. Complaints grew as more turbines came on-line.
In response to these noise complaints, UPC volunteered to collect and analyze sound samples over the course of four 24-hour periods. The purpose of the study was to verify the noise, determine its cause, and to confirm whether the facility was operating within the noise constraints as detailed in the approval Permit. UPC engaged RSE for this work, the same firm that conducted a pre-construction noise assessment for UPC of the Mars Hill wind facility.
RSE conducted several turbine-operational site location noise measurements and compared those with its original computer model predictions RSE also compared the noise data to Maine DEP regulations governing noise as specified in Chapter 375 of Maine Site Location Law, "No Adverse Environmental Effect Standard". Their results were published in a document entitled "Sound Level Study Ambient & Operations Sound Level Monitoring", and submitted to the Maine DEP.
While it is beyond the scope of the present report to evaluate the original RSE noise analysis or the derivation of the Maine DEP noise criteria, it is clear from our reading of the RSE study that the firm utilized a) inappropriate noise measuring methodology, b) inappropriate modeling software, and c) inappropriate assessment comparisons. We also found that RSE did not follow Maine DEP procedures when assessing noise at the site.
Read other articles by this KKAI Associate:
Wind Power Environmental Shadow Flicker Analysis Evaluation
Proposal for Reintegration of the Smith Telescope
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Kevin Kennedy & Associates, Inc.
Rapid Response Engineering® Solutions
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