aeinews.org =C2=BB Blog Archive = =C2=BB Wisconsin Country Implements Strict Noise Regulations on Wind = Turbines; Company Declares =E2=80=9CWar to End All Wars=E2=80=9D

Apr 29

Wisconsin Country Implements Strict Noise Regulations on = Wind=20 Turbines; Company Declares =E2=80=9CWar to End All = Wars=E2=80=9D

Health, Human=20 impacts, News=20 Add=20 comments

Calumet County, in eastern Wisonsin, recently faced a dilemma that is = increasingly common in rural America: an outside company had appeared in = their=20 region, planning to build wind farms and seeking permits. Many local=20 governmental bodies have taken a cursory look at complex reports = submitted by=20 companies, taken assurances of =E2=80=9Cno noise=E2=80=9D at face value, = and later regretted not=20 learning more. The Calumet County Board of Supervisors took two years to = consider the issue, and in March instituted a carefully considered = ordinance to=20 govern wind farm development that is exceedingly (perhaps even = excessively)=20 weighted toward protection of local residents from noise impacts. Two requirements are especially striking: a = requirement that=20 turbine noise not exceed 5dB over the current background sound levels = during the=20 quietest part of the day (night) will assure that turbines will not make = any=20 dramatic changes the overall sonic ambience of the rural landscape, and = a=20 related requirement that excessive low-frequency noise at any nearby = residence=20 will require shut-down of the offending turbine. In addition, when the = turbine=20 noise is repetitive (as can occur due to blades passing the tower), or = contains=20 pure tones (occasionally caused by mechanical issues), the 5dB = requirement is=20 futher reduced to 0dB. Both of these requirements likely far exceed the=20 protections that would be imposed by the setback standard, which is 1800 = feet.=20 Midwest Wind Energy, the company planning the wind farm, responded two = days=20 later by announcing that these requirements would preclude the = development, and=20 that it would expand its plans (combining turbines proposed for several = towns=20 and adding a few turbines), so that the project is large enough to = become=20 subject to state regulation, superceding the local ordinance. Despite = the delays=20 (18 months plus litigation time) and cost ($2 to 4 million dollars), the = company=20 said that it is =E2=80=9Cfully committed to this effort as we now see = this as =E2=80=9Cthe war=20 to end all wars=E2=80=9D regarding wind power in Wisconsin.=E2=80=9D = Indeed, even local=20 officials concur that the company likely has the guns to win this war: = =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s=20 just a matter of time,=E2=80=9D said Peter Dorn, a member of the = county=E2=80=99s Planning,=20 Zoning and Farmland Preservation Committee. =E2=80=9CAny time the state = government steps=20 in and recognizes its dealing with a big industry, local control is = going to=20 end.=E2=80=9D Still, there is a sense that local ordinances such as = this, and another=20 county which imposed a one-mile setback, could influence state = regulators and=20 legislators to give due consideration to local concerns about noise=20 impacts. Sources: Calumet County Press = Release,=20 3/20/08 [READ PRESS=20 RELEASE] [CALUMET COUNTY=20 ORDINANCE] Tri-County News,=20 3/26/08 [READ=20 ARTICLE] Daily Reporter,=20 3/18/08 [READ=20 ARTICLE] Midwest Wind Energy Memorandum,=20 3/20/08 [READ=20 MEMO] Post-Crescent,=20 3/15/08 [READ ARTICLE]
Ed. = note: This=20 is perhaps a prelude of similar debates that are likely to occur as = experiences=20 of those closest to wind farms spread to other rural communities; while = the=20 specifics of the Calumet County regulations are extreme (though not = necessarily=20 inappropriate), it is clear that the laissez-faire attitudes of the past = have=20 led to real problems for many people living within a half mile or so of=20 turbines. [See AEI Special = Report:=20 Wind Turbine Noise Impacts]

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Wisconsin Country Implements Strict Noise Regulations on = Wind=20 Turbines; Company Declares =E2=80=9CWar to End All = Wars=E2=80=9D

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