Noise Effects of Large Wind Turbines

At the presentation of the Avian Risk Assessment, the presenters from Chautauqua Wind Power LLC wanted to draw a comparison to the single wind turbine in Toronto so I will use that as an example. On a recent trip, I went to see that installation of a single turbine. The location of that installation is at Exhibition Place near the shore of Lake Ontario. The turbine is right next to a fast moving six lane road that creates continuous traffic noise. Although no specific measurements were taken, if you stood anywhere near the base, you could clearly hear mechanical noise - sort of a moaning and groaning and this was in a low wind situation. The noise from the turbine would be louder than the background noise in this area and not at all similar to the noises that occur here at present. The noise of a wind turbine when it is generating electricity is not the gentle whooshing that the developers say - it is more like a thwump-thwump-thwump sound with a spacing of about one second. Even if sound levels are not increased greatly (this is not the experience of those who live near.

On another recent trip, I learned that there was a wind turbine on the property of the nuclear plant in Pickering, Ontario. On this trip, I had the opportunity to ask a representative from Ontario Power Generation about the noise that this particular wind turbine produced. His answer was "5dB above ambient". When asked what the ambient noise level was, he gave no answer. This is not a quiet area - we were less than 2000 feet from the nuclear plant and the plant emits constant noise.

Wind Turbine in Pickering, Ontario. This turbine is about twice as tall as any other structure on the property of the nuclear power plant. To the right are the containment and turbine buildings. The distance to the wind turbine is about the same as the distance to the nuclear power plant. Photo by Barry Roden.

Sound Carries

The area at the top of the ridge is rolling hills with at least two gorges (Bell Creek Gorge and Chautauqua Gorge) running to the base of the ridge. The hills and gorge can act kind of like sound funnels, directing sounds to places that you wouldn't have thought possible unless you've experienced it. For example, at one site, well away from any gorges, trains can be heard at night but there is no railroad closer than 6 miles. If you walk a couple of hundred feet in any direction, all is quiet. This is caused by the noise of the trains being bounced around by the hills until it reaches that site and beyond.

"They recently built a race track about 8 or 9 miles from my house. You would think, at that distance, that you wouldn't be able to hear anything. Well... I was trying to sit in my side yard reading a book this afternoon (a clear sunny summer Sunday) and I could hear this low pitched throbbing mixed with high reving engine noise coming from the track. Basically, this noise makes it impossible for me to enjoy my yard when they are racing at that track. SOUND TRAVELS!"

Westfield resident talking about the race track that was build in Northeast, PA.

Low Frequency Noise

Slow moving machinery, such as wind turbines, cat produce low frequency noise. This noise, though it can't be heard, can have a significant effect on the health of those exposed to it - especially those who are particularly sensitive. Although inaudible, low frequency noise can cause disruptions in sleep, headaches and anxiety. In fact, low frequency noise was used as an instrument of torture by the Germans during the second world war. For more information, read the article entitled Wind farms 'make people sick who live up to a mile away'

If noise can travel through the hills for miles, why can't it carry a few hundred feet through a rock gorge?