Falmouth Guilty Wind Turbine Noise Study Fraud

The wind turbines purchased by the Town of Falmouth are Vestas V 82 wind turbines. The Town of Falmouth had been warned by Vestas prior to construction of the turbines that they generate up to 110 decibels of noise.

The Town of Falmouth had wind turbine feasibility studies done using General Electric wind turbines that generate up to 103.5 decibels of noise.

The difference is the current Vestas turbines are an intolerable 6 to 7 decibels higher than the GE turbines. They should never have been built.

The Town of Falmouth had filed a waiver with the federal government to use 6 million dollars in federal stimulus money. In that waiver request the town said they were going to install the turbine with the 240-166 Special Permit process.

The town did not file Special Permit 240- 166 because the turbines were 6 to 7 decibels louder than the GE wind turbine used in the feasibility study.

Filing for a Special Permit 240- 166 would not have allowed the town to build the wind turbines.

These facts are known to everyone. The people who constructed the wind turbines, Vestas, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, state and local politicians and even the attorneys defending the Town of Falmouth and the ten or more litigation ongoing cases.

The general public remains unaware the turbines should never have been built and asks the question why are they paying for years of litigation fees knowing the town should never have built the turbines ?

Simply put 103.5 decibels is like operating a lawn mower. The 110 decibels is like a hard rock band playing out doors 24/7 .

What is a decibel?

Zero decibels (0 dB) is the quietest sound audible to a healthy human ear. From there, every increase of 3 dB represents a doubling of sound intensity, or acoustic power.

Every 3 Decibel increase is a doubling of sound and acoustic power to the human ear and that is simply an intolerable increase.

http://www.noisehelp.com/decibel-scale.html

The Town of Falmouth was aware the turbines were 6 plus Decibels higher that the manufactures specifications.

In the following letter Vestas wind company reiterates in writing that the Town of Falmouth had been previously warned the turbine generates up to 110 decibels:

August 3, 2010
Mr. Gerald Potamis
WasteWater Superintendent
Town of Falmouth Public Works
59 Town Hall Square
Falmouth, MA 02540

RE: Falmouth WWTF Wind Energy Facility II “Wind II”, Falmouth, MA
Contract No. #3297

Dear Mr. Potamis,

Due to the sound concerns regarding the first wind turbine installed at the wastewater treatment facility, the manufacturer of the turbines, Vestas, is keen for the Town of Falmouth to understand the possible noise and other risks associated with the installation of the second wind turbine.

The Town has previously been provided with the Octave Band Data / Sound performance for the V82 turbine. This shows that the turbine normally operates at 103.2dB but the manufacturer has also stated that it may produce up to 110dB under certain circumstances. These measurements are based on IEC standards for sound measurement which is calculated at a height of 10m above of the base of the turbine.

We understand that a sound study is being performed to determine what, if any, Impacts the second turbine will have to the nearest residences. Please be advised that should noise concerns arise with this turbine, the only option to mitigate normal operating sound from the V82 is to shut down the machine at certain wind speeds and directions. Naturally this would detrimentally affect power production.

The manufacturer also needs confirmation that the Town of Falmouth understands they are fully responsible for the site selection of the turbine and bear all responsibilities to address any mitigation needs of the neighbors.

Finally, the manufacturer has raised the possibility of ice throw concerns. Since Route 28 is relatively close to the turbine, precautions should be taken in weather that may cause icing.

To date on this project we have been unable to move forward with signing the contract with Vestas. The inability to release the turbine for shipment to the project site has caused significant [SIC] delays in our project schedule. In order to move forward the manufacturer requires your understanding and acknowledgement of these risks. We kindly request for this acknowledgement to be sent to us by August 4, 2010, as we have scheduled a coordination meeting with Vestas to discuss the project schedule and steps forward for completion of the project.

Please sign in the space provided below to indicate your understanding and acknowledgement of this letter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.


Sincerely,

(Bruce Mabbott’s signature)
_____________________
Bruce Mabbott Gerald Potamis
Project Manager Town of Falmouth


CC: Sumul Shah, Lumus Construction, Inc.
(Town of Falmouth’s Wind-1 and Wind-2 Construction contractor)

Stephen Wiehe, Weston & Sampson
(Town of Falmouth’s contract engineers)

Brian Hopkins, Vestas
(Wind-1, Wind-2’s turbine manufacturer, and also Webb/NOTUS turbine)

http://www.windaction.org/posts/41357-vestas-raises-concerns-about-turbine-noise-letter#.Ve9oyhFVikp