Sounding off | Wind turbines powering two Maine islands found to violate noise standards
Three wind turbines on Vinalhaven Island are generating noise levels higher than state standards allow, according to a report prepared for environmental regulators.
After months of data collection and analysis, a consultant for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection found that the Fox Islands Wind farm emits sound above the state’s nighttime noise standards of 45 dBA, a measure of decibels, the Herald Gazette reported. “There exists a significant body of consistent meteorological and sound data indicating sound levels greater than applicable limits,” DEP consultant Warren Brown found.
The 1.5-megawatt turbines run at a slower rate at night to reduce noise, and a consultant hired by Fox Islands Wind has deemed the sound levels in compliance with state requirements. Fox Islands Wind CEO George Baker told the paper “there are discrepancies and disagreements between experts on how the data should be interpreted,” particularly in regards to the treatment of ambient sound levels.
Residents near the turbines, which went live nine months ago, have complained about the noise, prompting the studies. At least 1,700 Vinalhaven and North Haven residents power their homes and businesses with more than 11,000 megawatt-hours of wind energy generated by the community-run turbines. The $14.5 million project provides electricity at a base rate of about 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, not including transmission and other charges, which is down three cents from before the blades began producing power last December. A DEP official said the sound levels will have to come into compliance, whether that means powering down the turbines, shutting them off or finding another technological solution.
Jackie Farwell
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