TOWN HID WARNING TURBINES 6 DECIBELS HIGHER THAN ORIGINAL KEMA GE NOISE MODEL

FALMOUTH TURBINES 6 DECIBELS HIGHER THAN KEMA STUDY

The Town of Falmouth is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on litigation to fight the victims of both Falmouth Wind I and Falmouth Wind II over noise issues.

The answer is simple; The Vestas V-82 1.65 megawatt wind turbines installed generate 110 decibels of noise.

This is 6 decibels louder than the General Electric 1.5 megawatt wind turbines used in the Kema 2005 wind study model.

The General Electric noise 1.5 megawatt wind turbine noise per Epsilon Associates, Inc 2009 shows a maximum of 104 decibels.

Page 6-1 The maximum output of the General Electric 1.5 megawatt wind turbine is a maximum of 104 decibels

http://www.nexteraenergyresources.com/pdf_redesign/Epsilon_study.pdf

One hundred and three ( 104 ) decibels equals the sound of a lawn mower ( GE Wind Turbine )

Six ( 6 ) additional decibels of noise more than doubles the noise on the decibel scales.

The generation of 110 decibels equals that of a hard rock band playing out doors 24/7.

( Vestas V-82 Falmouth 1.65 megawatt turbines )

# Of special note the panel of experts who conducted the 2012 Massachusetts Wind Turbine Health Impact Study. The Report of Independent Expert Panel concluded on January 2012. It was prepared for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection . The panel never saw the August 10, 2010
Vestas wind warning letter to the Town of Falmouth that the turbines generate 110 decibels of noise.

Above is a picture from page 44 of the 2005 KEMA study that shows General Electric noise modeling at Blacksmith Shop Road up to 44 decibels. Click on the link study and enlarge the picture to get a clear view of the 40 decibel ring on Blacksmith Shop Road.

Now ad 6 decibels of noise to the 44 decibels of noise on Blacksmith Shop Road. The 40 decibel ring in the Kema study now become closer to a 50 decibel ring of noise. An intolerable amount of noise.

The Town of Falmouth was warned by Vestas Wind Company August , 2010 - They made a choice- That choice was to hide the letter until the most recent FOIA-- Freedom of Information Request Act.

The letter hidden for ( 5 ) five long years shows the turbines are 6 plus decibels louder than the modeled GE wind turbines in the study


VESTAS
The Town of Falmouth previously had been provided with the Octave Band Data / Sound performance for the Vestas V82 turbine in the 1.65 megawatt class .

“This shows that the turbine normally operates at 103.2 decibels but the manufacturer has also stated that it may produce up to 110 decibels”

http://www.windaction.org/posts/41357-vestas-raises-concerns-about-turbine-noise-letter#.Vl2-FXarTIV

FALMOUTH COMMUNITY WIND PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY 2005 Page 44

November 2005 Prepared by: KEMA, Inc. & Ecology and Environment, Inc

The following figures estimate the maximum noise impact (broadband noise) for a GE 1.5 MW (65 meters (213 feet) hub height) and a GE 2.5 MW turbine (84 meter (278 feet) hub height).

The 2.5 MW turbine has a slightly higher impact than the 1.5 MW turbine. In both cases, the estimated maximum impact is about 42 to 44 dB (A) at the property line of residences to the west or the south.17 Measured from outside the houses that are closest to the WWTF site, the sound of a wind turbine generating electricity is likely to be about the same level as noise from a flowing stream about 150 feet away; a car going 40 mph will have an impact of about 55 dB (A) from 300 feet away.

As noted earlier, several factors will further mitigate the overall noise impact on residential neighbors to the south and west. These include: 1) predominant wind direction from the southwest to the northeast; 2) terrain and foliage, and 3) existing background noise. Consistent with the Town Ordinance, there should not be excessive noise from the wind turbine above 40 dB (A) at the property line of the site.

Figure 17. Estimated Maximum Noise Impact of a 1.5 MW turbine

Page 44 of the study - there are three rings marked 50 - 40 - 30 decibels ( white with numbers)
Blacksmith Shop Road [ 40 ]


This estimated impact is based on the turbines used in the energy production modeling. GE and other manufacturers also offer noise reduction options, which would reduce the noise impact, but also reduce power production. 18 Danish Wind Industry Association Web Page:
http://www.windpower.org/en/tour/env/db/dbdef.htm.

http://www.falmouthmass.us/energy/falmouth%20feasibility%20study_111505.pdf

info note #

1 mile per hour equals 2.2 meters per second or 1mph equals 2.2 m/s