What Wind Turbine Noise Sounds Like and the Cause

Before the Wind Turbine was installed we asked about noise. No professional Wind Turbine Noise studies were presented to the Village Board. The Wind Turbine Company sales rep stated it would sound like a refrigerator. If we are forced to select an indoor appliance for comparison, we say it sounds like a washing machine. A 60 decibel noise limit was adopted by the Village. No standards were specified for how, when and where to measure Wind Turbine Noise.

How, When & Where to Measure Wind Turbine Noise is critical.

Wind Turbine Noise varies based on location. Standing at the base of the Wind Turbine might sound like a refrigerator. However, noise travels in a cone emanating from the top of the 120 foot tall Wind Turbine. The noise travels over treetops into our backyards and open windows. It travels over rooftops and reverberates between buildings. Now it sounds like a washing machine spinning out of balance! Move from your back yard to your front yard, and you can hear it bouncing off the homes across the street. Inside your home, the noise varies based on how it bounces between the walls. Moreover, low frequency Wind Turbine noise caused by three 23.7' long, 330 pound wind trubine blades rotating at 114 miles per hour can't be heard, but wreaks havoc in the inner ear.

Wind Turbine Noise varies based on Wind Direction. Behind the rotor and with the wind direction is noisier than in front of the rotor and against the wind direction.

Wind Turbine Noise varies based on Wind Speed & Turbulence. More wind speed/turbulence - more noise. Less wind speed/turbulence - less noise.

Wind Turbine Noise varies based on the make, model, type and quality of the Wind Turbine. All Wind Turbines sound alike is like all vehicles get the same gas mileage. If you've heard a quiet Wind Turbine, you may have been standing too close or too far away, you may have been in an empty field, you may have been in a wind lull, or you may have been listening to the Prius of Wind Turbines. Trust us, the Entegrity Wind Systems, Inc. EW50 is the Hummer of Wind Turbine NOISE makers!

The Never-Endingness of Wind Turbine Noise is critical.

Sure, we hear things every day that are louder than Wind Turbines: planes, trains & automobiles. Please understand that living and sleeping with continuous 24/7 Wind Turbine Noise is different. Unlike the leaf blower that eventually goes away, Wind Turbine Noise never goes away. It's always there and even when it's not, you think it is, you anticipate it. It's weird. And its quite disturbing. Imagine listening 24/7 to this.

It moved from its originally planned location - to my backyard!

Hummer vs. Prius

Wind Turbine's are not all created equal regarding noise.

From the U.S.Department of Energy

Wind Turbine Components

What Causes Wind Turbine Noise? Read Expert Commentary

A: Mechanical/moving parts + wind/turbulence/vibration = noise.

Rotor: The rotor diameter is 49 feet comprising three 23.7 ft. long blades that weigh 330 pounds each. The ends of the blades go around at 114 miles per hour. This creates a noise called SWOOSH that sounds like this.

Gear Box: Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase the rotational speeds from about 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm) to about 1000 to 1800 rpm, the rotational speed required by most generators to produce electricity. The gear box is a heavy part of the wind turbine and engineers are exploring "direct-drive" generators that operate at lower rotational speeds and don't need gear boxes.

Generator: An induction generator that produces 60-cycle AC electricity.

High Speed Shaft: Drives the generator.

Low Speed Shaft: The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rotations per minute.

Yaw Drive: Upwind turbines face into the wind; the yaw drive is used to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes.

Yaw Motors: Power the Yaw drive.

Pitch: Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to control the rotor speed and keep the rotor from turning in winds that are too high or too low to produce electricity.

Brake: A disc brake, which can be applied mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically to stop the rotor in emergencies. BTW, what emergencies are they referring to?

A Wind Turbine creates an oscillation of sound that is like a washing machine, a washing machine that:

rumbles constantly and is very noisy on spin cycle from bad drum bearings due to bearing seal failure.
sends out a loud noise with each revolution of a split drum or a drum where the spider at the back of the drum has come away from the drum, is corroded or broken.
makes a horrendous noise as coins or other obstructions trapped inside the tub under the drum get tossed about on spin cycle.
clanks with coins and other obstructions inside the water pump. This noise only occurs when the washing machine is emptying the water.
emits a light scraping or ratchety noise caused by a bra wire trapped between the tub and drum.
generates a high pitched squealing or harsh noise from motor bearing wear.
produces a knocking noise from loose or unbalanced tub weight caused when the tub (or outer drum) shakes about on spin.
creates surprising noises like those coming from a badly worn washing machine drive belt.

Wind Turbine Noise Syndrome

There are other problems from living too close to a Wind Turbine. Researcher Dr. Nina Pierpont of Malone, N.Y., coined the phrase "wind turbine syndrome" for sleep problems, headaches, dizziness and other maladies experienced by some people who live near wind energy farms. Her research says wind turbines should never be built closer than 2km (1.24 miles) from homes! See: http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com/

Our petition seeks a setback standard of 1 mile.
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