Renewable Energy Questions/Discussion > Wind and Hydro
Wind Power News
WooferHound:
Cape Cod community considers taking down wind turbines after illness, noise
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/26/cape-cod-community-considers-taking-down-wind-turbines-after-illness-noise/?test=latestnews
bj:
Interesting Woof, first off, thanks.
It brings up many thoughts, like, are the ones that are sick the same ones that opposed the installation in the first place?
Are the illnesses provable?
Jet engine like noise--been fairly close to a lot of turbines, small, and large, and haven't heard that myself. Bad installation?,
running away?, many questions.
There have been many studies, by reputable people/company's that do not support these findings.
The statement that the State should share in the blame/cost because they pushed it is interesting as well.
Before I slip into rant mode, ;) I'll just repeat, Interesting, and thanks Woof.
niall:
theres a few wind farms close to me on elevated ground (mostly , but not completely away from people ) , they have pretty much open access to the public....the " jet engine " noise is a bit of a stretch , they do have a loud swishing sound in high wind and transformer hum ....but the wind itself is usually as loud at that level ....
interesting that blade flicker was,nt mentioned at all ?.......
the sawmill that used to be across the road....now that was noise .. :o
Wolvenar:
Yeah great points BJ.
I HAVE heard very very loud flutter from an extremely large turbine in a valley.
It was very disconcerting to say the least. It was a valley and it was very low compression waves that reflected in the valley.
This is in Colorado so the Dans in the other forum likely know of it.
I would have moved if I lived there.
I can see the pain of losing a long term home too, but in this case I have trouble believing the claims.
MadScientist267:
Seems to me that there's something to this... It isn't the first story of its kind that I've read about...
Lets assume for a moment that its all 100% true... Headaches, blood pressure issues, heart murmurs, etc, all coming from chronic exposure to the force, Luke.
A few questions come up...
At what point do these effects become a serious problem? Turbine diameter, wind speed, distance from the "victim", proximity of turbines to structures/each other, and so on.
I'd like to think that this isn't just more BS from big brother oil, but its entirely possible that they are just having a ball with this; it's no secret that they don't like renewables.
If it is in fact real, then these problems need to be addressed. One thing that comes to mind is just flat out not building them in any proximity to any kind of civilization, and likewise, civilization not moving into their neighborhood either.
Once you eliminate the "tunnel vision" of energy companies and they stop building them near developed areas, its then up to society to make good judgment calls and stay away from them as well.
I look at it the same way as I look at natural phenomena, because lets face it, once built, a giga-turbine is for all purposes and intents, a permanent part of the landscape. The pros and cons must be dealt with just as if they were growing out of the ground from a teensie windmill seed.
If the ground shaking scares you, stay away from the San Andreas fault. Don't like hurricanes? Avoid the coasts. Tornadoes tore up your teepee? Get out of Topeka. Only a nut job lives at the bottom of a smoking mountain, so nuff said there. Visit the area before you move somewhere. Observe your surroundings. Hang out near your final destination and observe the environment for a few days/nights. THEN decide to move in.
Wind is likely to prove to be one of the best forms of RE from what I can tell... Better embrace it. On the other side of that same coin, don't "sell out" the very thing that brought you to your settlement in the first place if you're approached by a turbine advocate out on your ranch. You're in control. There's no reason they can't "pipe" it to you, they've been doing it with coal, gas, and uranium for years. Tell them you don't want their excuses if you're worried about it.
And RE companies that install these gigantor wonders of the modern world, get with it. There's a zillion square miles in Kansas where nobody wants to live, and the wind blows ruthlessly and regularly, in wide open plains... Put them up there, not in everyones back yard.
The ocean is another good place for them, and its been shown to be that way. Go for it, as far as I'm concerned.
And treehuggers? They need to go away; NOTHING is worse than oil. I'm so sick of hearing bird strike this and visual pollution that. Get over it.
RE is here to stay, and we all need to figure out how to deal with the pitfalls just as we have with the fossil fuels. There will be challenges with any source of juice...
/rant
Steve
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