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Falmouth Wind Turbine Noise Study Performed and Publicized: A White Paper
University of Massachusetts Renewable Energy Research Laboratory 2002 : Wind Turbine Noise Studies Should Be Performed and Publicized.
The Falmouth Massachusetts wind turbines are utility scale wind turbines that generate up to 110 decibels of noise clearly there is a problem
" a noise study should be performed and publicized."
Wind Turbine Acoustic Noise
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A white paper
Prepared by the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003 413-545-4359
www.ceere.org/rerl ;
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Anthony L. Rogers, Ph.D.
James F. Manwell, Ph.D.
Sally Wright, M.S., PE
June 2002 Amended January 2006
Conclusions and Recommendations
Wind Turbine Noise Issues Renewable Energy Research Laboratory Page 23
Modern, utility-scale wind turbines are relatively quiet; still, when sited within residential areas, noise is a primary siting constraint. The following are recommendations for standards, regulations and siting practices:
• Turbine Standards:
o Utility-scale turbines: Any incentives to promote wind energy should be provided only to turbines for which the manufacturer can provide noise data based on IEC standards or for turbines which are to be located at sites where there will clearly be no problem.
Small turbines: national standards for small wind turbine technology in general are needed. For noise in particular, sound levels should be measured at lower and higher wind speeds, in addition to those measured under the IEC standard. Any operation-mode-dependent, time-dependent and frequency-dependent components also need to be described. These standards need to provide sound measures that provide an accurate representation of issues of interest to potential listeners.
Noise Regulations:
o Community noise standards are important to ensure livable communities. Wind turbines must be held to comply with these regulations. Wind turbines need not be held to additional levels of regulations.
o For small wind turbines: Because of the wide variety of sound levels from small wind turbines, blanket setback limits should not be set a priori. However, they should be examined carefully based on the technology proposed.
Wind turbine siting practice:
o In order to comply with state noise regulations and to fit within community land use, the siting of wind turbines must take sound levels into consideration.
o If a wind turbine is proposed within a distance equivalent to three times the blade-tip height of residences or other noise-sensitive receptors, a noise study should be performed and publicized.
click to read entire report :
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Falmouth nuisance warning :
"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."
http://www.windaction.org/posts/41357-vestas-raises-concerns-about-turbine-noise-letter#.WJ5zJzsrK00
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UMass Amherst - Renewable Energy Research Laboratory is a research institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Today it is called the University of Massachusetts Wind Energy Center still a leading institution in wind energy engineering nationally and internationally Directed by Dr.James F. Manwell.
In the 1970s an alternative energy program was started at the University of Massachusetts and by the year 2002 it became known as the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory
As of 2007 RERL had been training graduate wind energy engineers for more than 35 years and involved in research on new technologies to measure the wind resource, offshore wind turbine design, installation issues, and hybrid wind-diesel power systems for various communities.
A statewide coalition, led by the campus’ Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (RERL), had won a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund a center for testing the next generation of giant wind turbine blades.
Dr. James F. Manwell, is, without doubt, one of the most recognized pro wind academicians in the Untied Sates. He is a member of the faculty of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst (and therefore is an employee of the Commonwealth).
The University of Massachusetts Renewable Energy Research Laboratory produced and published a wind turbine report prior to the Falmouth wind turbine installations for the towns of Mattapoisett, Marion & Rochester.
The University of Massachusetts Renewable Energy Research Laboratory report warned:
Noise considerations generally take two forms, state regulatory compliance and nuisance levels at nearby residences:
A. ”Regulatory compliance”: Massachusetts state regulations do not allow a rise of 10 dB or greater above background levels at a property boundary (Massachusetts Air Pollution Control Regulations, Regulation 310 CMR 7.10).
B.”Human annoyance”: Aside from Massachusetts regulations, residences must also be taken into consideration
The Town of Falmouth started its wind turbine research in 2002 and ignored the warnings of regulatory compliance, human annoyance and hid a noise warning letter from the public the turbines are 110 decibels of noise
