Content © Stopwoodlanewindfarm 2008 - 2011
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Recent reports of noise & health problems - confirmation of the need for a 2km offset |
Wind turbines are as well as, not instead of the power stations
Scientists say that anyone living within a six mile radius of the turbines can be
affected by the vibrations and noise they generate. Read the
full article
November 2011
News round up
Noise and health problems.
Switch-off for noisy wind farms
- includes complaints in Yorkshire
Following complaints about the noise of rotating blades from nearby residents, operators have agreed to switch off the machines or reduce their speed when the wind is blowing too strongly. Wind farms in Yorkshire causing noise problems included Lissett near Bridlington and Knabs Ridge near Harrogate.
The dossiers reveal a total of 269 complaints about noise pollution from wind farms in the last three years.
Following 125 of the complaints, the turbine operators concerned took steps to reduce the noise produced by their machines. A further 36 are still being investigated. Most cases were resolved informally, either by an agreement to reduce the machines' output or by fixing faults responsible for the noise.
However, one wind farm near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was so loud that the operator was served with an abatement notice to reduce noise.
Evaluating the impact of wind turbine noise on health related quality of life
Technical paper by Shepard, McBride1, Welch, Dirks and Hill.
This concluded with the recommendation of a 2km mnimum distance.
A thorough investigation of wind turbine noise and its effects on health is important given the prevalence of exposed individuals, a nontrivial number that is increasing with the popularity of wind energy.[29] For example, in the Netherlands it is reported that 440,000 inhabitants (2.5% of the population) are exposed to significant levels of wind turbine noise.[30] Additionally, policy makers are demanding more information on the possible link between wind turbines and health in order to inform setback distances. Our results uggest that utility-scale wind energy generation is not without adverse health impacts on nearby residents. Thus, nations undertaking large-scale deployment of wind turbines need to consider the impact of noise on the HRQOL of exposed individuals. Along with others,[31] we conclude that nighttime wind turbine noise limits should be set conservatively to minimize harm, and, on the basis of our data, suggest that setback distances need to be greater than 2 km in hilly terrain.
Study recommends 2km minimum separation on health grounds
Noise regulations: Denmark accused of applying double standards to wind farm neighbours
Under the proposed EPA regulations, for 33% of neighbours it will feel “as if a truck is idling just outside their homes”.
Canadian physician Dr Robert McMurtry, said “Truth has become a casualty. Sadly there are many ill-consequences to the policies for the installation of industrial wind turbines (IWT), not the least of which are adverse effects on human health. I have met more than 40 people whose lives have been devastated when IWT became their bad neighbor. It is also clear that this is a global phenomenon and yet the denial by many of those in authority continues.” (2) Read the full report
Noise complaints from two 125 metre turbines in Suffolk.