Winter weather photos
Northeastern vs. West Liberty-Salem
House destroyed in fire
Engineer discusses noise generated by wind turbines
The presentation to a Champaign County group is one of three scheduled about noise concerns.
COMMENTS: Would you be willing to live near a turbine?
FREE ARCHIVE: See past articles
Thursday, February 07, 2008
URBANA — Champaign County residents and leaders learned Wednesday that noise could be caused by wind turbines proposed to be built for wind energy development in the county.
The county's Wind Turbine Study Group, which usually meets at 7 a.m. Tuesdays, had an evening meeting to accommodate the speaker and residents who can't attend morning meetings.
Extras
The group's mission is to research wind energy development and inform local decision-makers of the findings.
More than 50 people attended the meeting, but no public participation was allowed, and Champaign County Prosecutor and group moderator Nick Selvaggio said questions could be sent to the group.
Selvaggio also reminded the audience that the presentation was only one part of a more than three-week noise discussion and urged listeners not to generalize opinions based on the information presented.
Speaker Richard James, a noise control engineer from E-Coustic Solutions, was brought by group member Diane McConnell of Union Neighbors United — a group of Union Twp. residents concerned about local zoning decisions regarding wind energy development.
James presented information he had found in studies done by other sources.
Most of the noise turbines make is at a low frequency and is most audible in the evening and night when there are fewer background noises, he said.
Noises vibrations from the turbines could be different for two people standing side by side, he said.
"The way people respond to noise is entirely variable," James said.
Some people have adverse physical effects to the low frequencies, such as breathing problems and head symptoms, according to studies James showed.
Also at the meeting, Everpower Renewables offered reading materials presented during previous morning group discussions, including studies that find utility-scale wind turbines to be quiet and state that low frequency noise is not a hazard.
Contact this reporter
at (937) 328-0226 or nmorales@coxohio.com
Comments
By T.M. Abbott
February 18, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
If some noise is the biggest drawback to wind energy how could anyone protest it. I mean, for goodness sakes. I haven’t seen anyone on here complaining about all the oil spills over the last ten years, the estimated cost of gasoline reaching $5 a gallon, or the pollution rich (very noisy), crude refineries that continue to be vulnerable national security nightmares waiting to happen. You’re all daft to think there is any legitimate comparison to favor crude over wind just because of some noise.
By T.M. Abbott
February 12, 2008 12:47 AM | Link to this
How Expensive is Wind-Generated Electricity? Once a wind-turbine is built and paid for, it generates electricity almost for free. Once your house is built and paid for, it provides housing almost for free. In each case the cost of the service is mainly a financing cost, but it is real nonetheless.
By Martha Thacker
February 10, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
I do not want anyone to live near these monstrocities. the noise changes with variables such as humidity in the air. You cannot drive by them and know what it is like. There are 18 families whose lives are ruined in Mars Hill…thanks to their wind farm. We , who live near Stetson Mt. , have noticed UPC pays people to like them. They pick out leaders in communities. I suspect a few of the commenters here have had their pockets lined. I still do not wish a wind farm in your back yard.
By Roberta
February 10, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Maybe ROY its you who needs the education, so you won’t hit POST 4 times instead of once?? It seem’s the wind farmers are above the laws of our land wherever they go.PUSHY people,finish last.
By Roy D Mercer
February 10, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this
I apologize about the multiple posts!
By Roy D Mercer
February 10, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
Hey Martha, we all sleep different!!!! When the wind is blowing, I have the fan on high!!! Get used to it and deal with it and get a real education!!!!!
By Roy D Mercer
February 10, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
Hey Martha, we all sleep different!!!! When the wind is blowing, I have the fan on high!!! Get used to it and deal with it and get a real education!!!!!
By Roy D Mercer
February 10, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
Hey Martha, we all sleep different!!!! When the wind is blowing, I have the fan on high!!! Get used to it and deal with it and get a real education!!!!!
By Roy D Mercer
February 10, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
Hey Mertha, we all sleep different!!!! When the wind is blowing, I have the fan on high!!! Get used to it and deal with it and get a real education!!!!!
By Martha
February 9, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this
The noise from wind farms is described as similiar to rustling leaves or a bird twittering. Yet the people in Mars Hill are awakened in the middle of the night by them. UPC , who put the wind farm in, had had to cheat on the noise decible level study. The limit is 55 decibles in the state of Maine around wind farms. This amount of noise can cause hearing loss. UPC is a criminal organization.
By lover of nature
February 9, 2008 2:42 AM | Link to this
these industrial wind turbines are not the green santa everyone is hoping they are. They are 40 stories tall and kill bats and birds and tear up communities. They only exist because of our tax dollars. They often draw more electricity than they produce. Did you know they can’t run by themselves and they always rely on a power plant, usually powered by coal? this is the biggest, saddest, environmental disaster since ddt. Industiral wind turbines spell miserty.
By lover of nature
February 9, 2008 2:42 AM | Link to this
these industrial wind turbines are not the green santa everyone is hoping they are. They are 40 stories tall and kill bats and birds and tear up communities. They only exist because of our tax dollars. They often draw more electricity than they produce. Did you know they can’t run by themselves and they always rely on a power plant, usually powered by coal? this is the biggest, saddest, environmental disaster since ddt. Industiral wind turbines spell miserty.
By W E Midgley
February 7, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
I have seen these windmills in other states the noise they put out realy esent all the bad I didnt see any dead or hacked up birds I have also been by oil rigs noise is tearable the mud exhust of engins are breath takeing and even the pumps they use after the well is in are very noise and dirty and dum looking the wind mill is much more perfurred
By Roy D Mercer
February 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
I wonder how many people complaining about wind turbines have central air, air conditioners, ceiling fans, or any kind of fans running with a constant noise? The biggest complainers of all have a factory in Urbana that emits more noise, vibration, and pollution than a field of wind turbines would ever do!
By Richard Herron
February 7, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
I live in NE champaign county and I would be happy to see one of these in my back yard any day. I don’t want my 2 year old doughter or her future children to suffer because we did’nt like the sound or the look of some wind turbines. It seems some would rather complain that somthing needs to be done. And then when they do something, we complain about that.
By eddie
February 7, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Maybe you would prefer living next to an oil derrick? I for one would scoop up the undervalued properties and produce another renewable energy source…corn…I’m sure those “ears” won’t mind the sound…
By KrisC
February 7, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
I absolutely hate the thought of those things on the horizon. They look like giant oil wells. I have noise sensitivity and I am sure animals do, but who cares about us? Greedy landowners will get their payday no matter what, just as they did putting Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco ads that were on every barn in America back when. They don’t really care about what the turbines are for. Just for another pay day, they’d put pink elephants out there.
By D A
February 7, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Instant gratification comes in all forms. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have a renewable energy resource flowing above our land are proud that we can help provide green nonpolluting energy to others. It is not about the money for most of us. It is about the money for those who oppose wind projects. We have to look forward 25-50 years and make a lifestyle and monetary committment to help our nations energy needs. What happens when your heating bills go up 10 fold?
By T.M. Abbott
February 7, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Until you’ve lived near them there’s no room to talk. They aren’t all that noisy and they don’t kill birds. They actually look rather elegant on the landscape and houses aren’t built right next to them. People who say such things are just parroting what they’ve heard other people say who don’t know what they’re talking about either. You want to know what kills wildlife? Oil spills, and fossil fuel emissions from power plants, et al. Get off the mule train and free yourself to needed change.
By Kathy
February 7, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
It’s certainly not just a noise issue. The modern windmills make the old fashioned ones look like tiny ants, and they can tower 30 stories high! I sure don’t want to live near this type of eye sore anymore than I’d want to live next door to a trash dump. Additionally, studies found that they are killing machines and more than 1,000 eagles & hawks have been mangled and chopped by the fast-moving windmills. It’s all about making money for a handful of people at the expence of many.
By Comluc
February 7, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
The noise can’t be as bad as kids with deep base booming out of their cars thumping down the street.
By john hunicutt
February 7, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
DATELINE: USA around 1900 - “Horseless Carriage Emissions a Concern”
DATELINE: USA around 1800 - “Horse Emissions a Concern”
DATELINE: USA around 1750 - “Bears in Woods a Concern”
…how rediculous can you get?
By Budwiser
February 7, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
wHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE I LIVE IN NEW CARLISLE AND LIVE IN A SECTION THAT IS CONSTANT NOISE ANY HOW MAYBE THE WINDMILL WOULD COVER UP MY NOISY NEIGHBORHOOD LOL :0)
By Roberta
February 7, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Does it really matter to the wind poeple what the average “Joe” want’s? They don’t care about anyone’s feeling’s on the subject. They will just push ahead and do what they please.They have shown it time and again in small town’s all over America.They do more damage to the enviroment than good.It’s all about the money.
By matt
February 7, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
I wouldn’t live near one. Neighbors’ property values will go down, as will the use and enjoyment of their home and property. Anyone who puts a massive windmill on their property should be ashamed of themselves—making a buck at the expense of their neighbors.
By Norman Harris
February 7, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
No comment.
By Rick
February 7, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
This question is a joke right? I’ve driven by these monstrosities in other states and no one in their right mind would want to live anywhere near them.
By Madge
February 7, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
Kudos to Champaign County for putting forth the effort to meet every week and not just when it suits them like another county “wind group”. Champaign Co is fortunate to have people that care and are trying to do what is best for the community. Hearing from experts and not Everpower a company that has never built a turbine or lease holders who are often heard to say, “if you make the setback over 1.25 times the height I won’t be able to have one.” Best for the community? Speak up people!
By Madge
February 7, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
Kudos to Champaign County for putting forth the effort to meet every week and not just when it suits them like another county “wind group”. Champaign Co is fortunate to have people that care and are trying to do what is best for the community. Hearing from experts and not Everpower a company that has never built a turbine or lease holders who are often heard to say, “if you make the setback over 1.25 times the height I won’t be able to have one.” Best for the community? Speak up people!
By jamestown
February 7, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
Good grief.
By bob
February 7, 2008 6:57 AM | Link to this
“”The way people respond to noise is entirely variable,” James said.”
Thanks for the insight, Einstein.