Study: Monroe turbines too noisy
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
Recorder Staff
Friday, August 1, 2014
(Published in print: Saturday, August 2, 2014)
MONROE — Acoustic testing of the Hoosac Wind turbines in Monroe and Florida show
that noise levels have exceeded the maximum decibel range permissible for the 19turbine New England Wind facility.
Wind turbines in Massachusetts are not allowed to exceed the ambient noise-level of their
surroundings by more than 10 decibels. But in four measurement samples taken in
January and February, acoustic engineers found higher-than-acceptable noise levels in
both Monroe and Florida. The “loudest” of these tests occurred on Feb. 20, when the
average turbine noise in Monroe and Florida was about 17 decibels above the general
noise of surroundings, when no turbines were running. The unusual sound-level was
attributed to ice on the turbine blades.
The parent company, Iberdrola Renewables, has promised to take corrective measures by
year’s end. In a letter sent to the Western Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection office on April 28, the company says it will:
∎ Install trailing edge serrations (saw-like edges) on the blades to reduce the overall
turbine sound.
∎ Develop an operational protocol to address potential turbine noise for when the blades
are coated with ice.
∎ Hire an independent engineering service to “study the tonality in more detail.”
According to Western Mass. DEP spokeswoman Catherine Skiba, a tonality study is a
detailed analysis of where on the turbine the sounds are coming from.
The letter goes on to say that “New England Wind will review these results with DEP
once the study is completed.
The testing first took place in 2013, after DEP had received numerous noise complaints
from residents in Clarksburg and Florida, said Skiba. She said the DEP requested
additional sites to be tested, on Tilda Hill in Monroe and on Moores Road, which were
performed this year, on Jan. 9 and Feb. 20.
Since the letter was written, Iberdrola Renewables has invited 60 neighbors to an
information session, to hear landowners’ concerns, give them copies of the sound test
results and discuss the planned modifications.
Skiba said the DEP has received 58 complaints since the 28.5-megawatt wind farm
started up, in December 2012.
Nine of the 340-foot-tall wind turbines are located in Monroe and 10 are situated in
Florida.
The sound analysis was done by RSG Inc, an independent Vermont-based company that
specializes in acoustic analysis.
According to GE, the manufacturer of these turbines, the average wind-turbine sound is
about 43 decibels, which is slightly louder than a refrigerator (40 dBs) but softer than an
air-conditioner (50 dBs).
The ambient noise-level in Florida and Monroe without running turbines, about 27 dBs,
is almost at the bottom of the noise scale; so a 10-decibel increase is a noticeable increase
in loudness.
Opponents of the windmills have repeatedly cited noise pollution as a concern.
You can reach Diane Broncaccio at: dbroncaccio@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext.
277
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Comments 4
Larry Lorusso wrote:
08/03/2014
After 19 months the neighbors of Hoosac Wind are finally vindicated. Only some of us
are crazy! GE is not telling that 43 dbA is compared to 27 dbA is relatively NOISY and is
more than 2X! Then we have low frequency sounds which adds to the disturbance. If it's
not enough to get up more then a few mornings not sleeping well, there are other
intrusions into our homes and lives because of the project. We went from quiet rural
neighborhood to industrial zone. What was once a large forested habitat with scenic
opportunities and solitude became a blasted area devoid of trees and swamps and filled in
with crushed rock with huge industrial wind turbines. It was the "Enchanted Forest" and
now that's gone...
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Larry Lorusso wrote:
08/02/2014
We live in Clarksburg on the Bakke Mountain side of Hoosac Wind and none of the
neighbors on this side of the mountain received any invitation from Iberdrola despite
complaints from our neighborhood. It wasn't until after I inquired to MassDEP after
recieving the report from another source any notice the study had been performed or
published 3 months after the report was done. We were also informed MassDEP has no
intention of testing on this side, despite complaints. My question is, how is Hoosac Wind
going to be known if Hoosac Wind is out of compliance if the state doesn't require sound
monitoring? Testing done on this side in Spring 2013, had equipment behind trees and in
the woods when open areas were nearby and no sampling in the conditions which wake
us up and keep us from sleeping. We are loosing more than sleep here as a result of
Hoosac Wind.
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BigBarry wrote:
08/02/2014
Independent acousticians have questioned the validity of the findings, claiming that the
noise level is higher than the test showed. The testing was reportedly done when the
turbines were only working at half power and the instruments used to record the sound
were placed in such a way as they would not get the most accurate readings. It is also
important to point out that the negative health impact comes primarily from the low
frequency sound that penetrates homes and was not measured.
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NortheasternEE wrote:
08/02/2014
Every wind turbine tested by MassDEP has been found to be in violation of noise
pollution regulations. The remedy accepted by the authorities has been a pseudo
mitigation plan that is not only ineffective in eliminating the nuisance and health impacts
of the noise pollution, but has no provisions for any monitoring to ensure compliance,
accepting the developers' assurance of compliance. The MassDEP remedy is a
whitewash. MassDEP technicians get credit for discovering and reporting the problem,
but management is busy covering it up in the false belief that clean wind energy is worth
the sacrifice of those impacted. The law is the law. Please enforce it!
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