Changing VT State Wind Turbine Noise Regulations 1. Existing Standard of 45 dBA too high 2. Proposed 42 dBA day/35 dBA night level (most conservative in New England) 3. Specifies Measurement Criteria 4. SAME FOR LARGE AND SMALL TURBINES Complex Process Involving Multiple Stakeholders
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Changing VT State Wind Turbine Noise Regulations
1. Existing Standard of 45 dBA too high
2. Proposed 42 dBA day/35 dBA night level(most conservative in New England)
3. Specifies Measurement Criteria
4. SAME FOR LARGE AND SMALL TURBINES
Complex Process Involving Multiple Stakeholders
Worked at MA DEP 2012-20131. Began at a Time When Many Wind Projects
Were Upcoming or Coming On Line in MA
2. Little Existing Expertise Understanding of Wind Turbine Acoustics at DEP –helped examine regulations
Turbine Complaints1. Not all Projects had complaints – majority of
projects well received
2. Most complaints near larger (> 1.5 MW Turbines near the coast) – NO COMPLAINTS FOR < 1.5KW
Small vs. Large Wind Turbine Dose Response Studies
12%_____________________ Wielbull Probability of Incidence5m/s (11.2 MPH) average
10%_______________________
7%_________________________
5%_________________________
2%_______________________
1%________________________
The Bergey Excel 10 wind turbine makes its max. noise at 26 mph< 0.2% of the time.
Wind Turbine vs. Other Noise Sources
SMALL TURBINE SOUND ANNOYANCE
1. Not included in the wind turbine annoyance studies
2. Have sound characteristics closer to continuously operating equipment than larger turbines-fans, industrial equipment
3. Corresponding higher actual annoyance level-45, 50 dBAor even higher-MUCH HIGHER THAN 35 dBA PROPOSED LEVEL
TURBINE SETBACK DISTANCES
1. Large Turbines (2.5 MW) would require nearly 4000 foot setbacks to meet new standards of 35 dBA
2. SMALL FARM TURBINES WOULD REQUIRE NEARLY 1500 FOOT SETBACKS TO MEET 35 dBA LIMIT-AN EFFECTIVE BAN ON SMALL WIND TURBINES AT FARMS AND RESIDENCES
3. 42 dBA standard would be met by small farm turbines at about 650 feet distance – still a considerable setback!
CONCLUSIONS1. Proposed noise regulations are VERY conservative for ALL
wind turbines
2. Significantly different conditions indicate that they are NOT appropriate for small wind-background levels, soundproduction, perception, masking, amplitude modulation,infrasound all different-small turbines have much lesseffect for given sound level
1. PROPOSED REGULATIONS WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE BAN ON SMALL WIND IN VT
4. Better level for small turbines – 42 dBA day and night (still conservative!)