Bring in the noise

For every problem there's a solution that's simple, attractive, and wrong

Posted by JMG (Guest Contributor) at 1:43 PM on 05 Oct 2007

Read more about: energy | wind power | Michigan

Like the noise standard one jurisdiction in Michigan has adopted for wind turbines:

"Based on their studies, noise was identified as a key problem. After lengthy research and discussion the regulation was made simple.

"If it makes noise and we can measure it, you shut it down," Arndt said."

Shall we apply that to coal burners and natural gas turbines (jet engines)??

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3 Comments | Post a Comment

How about cars?

by Jon Rynn at 1:55 PM on 05 Oct 2007

Lets apply that to trees.....

If it makes a noise when the wind blows cut it down. Or cell phone towers.

Things would get a little flat. I note that the link provided in the OP is an anti-wind turbine astroturf site. Probably funded by Peabody Coal and friends.

Put the Carbon Back

by Pangolin at 2:55 PM on 05 Oct 2007

noise can make you crazy

It all depends on the kind of noise. While I'm a fan of alternatives, I have a new appreciation for noise issues after a farmer installed an industrial-style corn drying operation not far from my home - a very rural area where one can listen to the silence at night (which isn't really silent as there are many night creature sounds), but it's deep and wonderful. Anyway that corn drying operation, which was about a mile away as the crow flies, almost drove me insane. All I could hear, day and night, even in the house, was a constant, high-pitched hum. After a few weeks of it I was losing sleep, was irritable, especially at home, I felt like I could not breathe for that constant hum. It was torture. A number of residents complained (some weren't bothered, noise is one of those things, especically the kind of frequency the corn dryers emitted), and finally the farmer turned the thing off (on Christmas) and last year and this year I haven't heard it at all. Perhaps he decided an industrial style operation isn't applicable in rural Maine, I don't know.

I someone moves in and the noise is there, fine. But when you've lived someplace for ten years and suddenly something comes in that significantly impacts your quality of life, then there's an issue to be dealt with. In my case, no one was consulted. One day the noise was just there. And it was measurable because I had someone come out and measure it. But it was within the zoning ordinance limits, which obviously aren't as strict as Michigan. On the other hand there's a real need for non-fossil-fuel energy sources. Re: cars - absolutely they are noisy. But unless you live near a freeway, the sound isn't constant, 24-7, and it's the sounds with no relief that can be crazy-making. Literally.

by SMLowry at 4:16 PM on 05 Oct 2007

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