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Alerts
These postings are provided to help publicize and provide examples of the efforts of affiliated groups and individuals related to industrial wind energy development. Most of the notices posted here are not the product of nor are they necessarily endorsed by National Wind Watch.
Le Prix du Vent [The Price of Wind]
Maxime Poisot, Sioux Berger, Baptiste Chouet
L’intérêt général ne peut s’affranchir de l’intérêt des particuliers au seul nom du progrès.
[The general interest cannot ignore individual interests in the name of progress.]
Sioux Berger est auteur et journaliste spécialisée dans les sujets d’écologie et de bien-être. Originaire d’Auvergne et vivant en région parisienne, elle a été confrontée à l’installation d’éoliennes dans le village familial et a dans ce contexte entamé un travail d’enquête et de mobilisation citoyenne. Elle a publié le roman Les Pentes sur le même thème.
De la scène à l’édition en passant par la communication, Maxime Poisot est un auteur à la croisée des écritures contemporaines.
Baptiste Chouët, illustrateur installé à Nantes, publie sur des sujets de citoyenneté et de politique dans Ouest France.
Tenth International Conference on Wind Turbine Noise
June 21-23, 2023
Trinity Business School, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
https://www.windturbinenoise.eu/content/conferences/10-wind-turbine-noise-2023/
This is our tenth Wind Turbine Noise conference and we are back live on site again. This time in Dublin for three days on 21st to 23rd June 2023. Update: Registration is now open for the conference.
We have a great venue on the historic campus at Trinity College Dublin right in the very heart of Dublin City. It is a few minutes’ walk from Temple Bar, Grafton Street, O’Connell Street and most of the major attractions of the city.
There is a remote delegate option for those who really cannot join us. Remote delegates will be able to submit a paper and present by sending us a recorded presentation: just submit an abstract in the normal way and tick the box to say you will be remote. The conference will be streamed live in audio and video and you will be able to ask questions via a text link.
You can submit an abstract any time between now until February. See the website for themes and ideas and important dates. Update: Click here for the full program (pdf).
We have put all the previous nine sets of conference proceedings on the website and available for download. You will still have to pay for the last three, but the entire proceedings for the first six are now free to download. Note that you need to go to “Get access to conference proceedings” first to fill in your details.
Feicfidh muid i mBaile Átha Cliath sibh. See you in Dublin.
Post-conference report
Abstracts
Impacts, Ohio, Publications •
Source: Crawford Anti-Wind/Crawford Neighbors United PAC
Hard Facts – 653.5 ft Industrial Scale Turbine
HARD FACTS – 653.5 FT INDUSTRIAL SCALE TURBINE
(as proposed for Crawford County, OH)
THE FOUNDATION
- 71 tons of rebar
- 29 tons of bolt cage
- 772 cubic yards of concrete
- Extremely hard rock, no pilings used
- 72.5 ft. across
- 11 ft. deep
THE TOWER
- Transported in 7 sections
- 426.5 ft. tall
THE GENERATOR
- Weighs 188,600 lbs.
- 17 ft. in diameter
THE BLADES
- 221 ft. each
- 49,000 lbs. each
- Blade tip height is 653.5 ft. tall (199.2 meters)
- Rotor diameter is 446.2 ft (136 meters).
TRANSPORTING
- 100+ truckloads for crane parts
- 80 truckloads of concrete
- 29 truckloads of turbine components
MISCELLANEOUS
- Tallest turbine onshore in the U.S.
- There is only one this size
- It is part of the test facility at West Texas A&M Univ.
- When constructed, it was the first of its size outside of China.
- No residential homes in sight for many miles.
INITIAL IMPACT ON CRAWFORD COUNTY
- First full scale industrial facility in U.S. to construct this size of turbine.
- NOT ONE turbine, but 144 turbines in just Phase 1 of project!
- No decrease in Ohio’s low setback number of 1,125 ft. (plus one horizontal blade) with super-sized turbines
- With high population density for rural area, no opportunity to isolate turbines
- Heavy damage to roadways, due to weight and number of truckloads passing through
- Years of road construction, traffic delays, and complete shutdowns due to constant repairs
- Well water issues (poisoned or dry wells)
Let’s Stop the Lava Ridge Project!
LS Power wants to build its wind project on public land – our land. It belongs to all of us. Our voices matter!
We are a community group standing up for ourselves and Idaho. In order to protect our home, we need to band together and let all stories and opinions be heard. We aim to educate people about the project, share ways people can help stop the project, and advocate our cause to local and state government leaders. Many believe that the project is approved and there is nothing we can do. We CAN do something, and we will do everything we can to protect our homes, lands, and livelihoods.
Public Open House
Thursday, July 14th
6 p.m.
At the Messersmith Building,
Jerome County Fairgrounds
Come and learn more about the wind turbine projects in our area and their impacts!
Letter Writing
Aviation
Wildlife
Livestock
Health
and General Project Information
We can make a difference. This is NOT a done deal.
We need to tell Our Personal Stories and how the project will impact us, our families, and community.
We need your help.
What you can do:
- Email or call your U.S. Congressional Delegates:
Rep. Mike Simpson – Linda Culver, 208-734-7219, Linda.Culver@mail.house.gov
Sen. Mike Crapo – Samantha Marshall, 208-734-2515, Samantha_Marshall@crapo.senate.gov
Sen. Jim Risch – Mike Mathews, 208-734-6780, Mike_Mathews@Risch.senate.gov
- Contact county commissioners who are serving on the BLM Lava Ridge Subcommittee and share your concerns:
Commissioner Ben Crouch, Jerome County, at bcrouch@co.jerome.id.us
Commissioner Rebecca Wood, Lincoln County, at commishwood@gmail.com and 208-320-1387 (cell) and 208-886-0011 (cell)
Commissioner Wayne Shenk, Minidoka County at minidokacc1@co.minidoka.id.us and 208-670-2202
- Contact County Commissioners – Tell your personal story and how the project impacts you, your family, and your community.
Jerome County www.jeromecountyid.us/
Lincoln County lincolncountyid.us/commissioners-2/
Minidoka County www.minidoka.id.us/246/County-Commissioners
- Join us for a BLM in-person public comment period on Wednesday, June 15 at the BLM’s Twin Falls District Office, 2878 Addison Ave. E, Twin Falls.
Public comment is from 4:45-5:15 PM
Please email MJ Byrne mbyrne@blm.gov to ask to be added to the list of speakers.
Also, you can submit written comments to mbyrne@blm.gov to share with the Lava Ridge Subcommittee. There is no deadline for written comments.
- Email or call your County Commissioners, attend County Commissioner meetings.
- Share information with us. Tell your friends and family about the project.
- Contact BLM Shoshone Field Office.
- Email/write a letter to state and local BLM officials. We have been assured that they want YOUR stories. Be personal and polite, but passionate!
- Contact BLM RAC.
Attend Public Comment Meetings in July, Aug, Oct.
- Watch for the BLM Draft EIS report in August.
- Encourage your friends and neighbors to learn more at www.stoplavaridge.com and share information with us at stoplavaridge@gmail.com and on Facebook.
Changes to the regulation of wind farm noise – Victoria, Australia
New regulations of wind energy facilities in Victoria are proposed to ensure that the amenity of local communities is protected and to provide certainty for industry. These will replace interim regulations, which are due to expire in October 2022.
What is being proposed?
Three alternative approaches to wind farm noise regulation have been assessed in a regulatory impact statement (RIS), prepared by Deloitte Access Economics:
- No additional regulation – relying on general provisions within the Environment Protection Act 2017
- Direct regulation – setting specific requirements for compliance
- Permissions – using a permit or other permission from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to specify requirements for compliance.
The RIS identified that the preferred approach is direct regulation, as it is expected to provide greater certainty by creating an explicit and transparent regulatory framework.
The following package of requirements for wind farm operators is proposed under both the direct regulation and permissions options:
- Complying in an ongoing manner with the relevant noise standard
- Implementing a noise management plan, including a complaints management plan
- Providing an annual statement of actions taken to ensure compliance
- Completing a post-construction noise assessment
- Undertaking noise monitoring every five years.
Under all options, EPA will be the primary regulator for wind farm turbine noise, for new and existing facilities.
The Minister for Planning will continue to be responsible for assessing applications and approving permits for wind farm developments.
Why are new regulations needed?
The Environment Protection Amendment (Interim) Regulations 2021 [click here for PDF] were made on 26th October 2021, are currently in effect and will expire after 12 months. Ongoing regulations are required to ensure continuity and certainty for industry and community.
How does this relate to the interim regulations?
Proposed regulations about wind farm noise have been developed for public feedback, the Environment Protection Amendment Regulations 2022 (‘proposed regulations’).
The proposed regulations have the same requirements for wind farm operators as in the current interim regulations, with some minor points of clarification and updates to the timing of requirements. This includes two changes in response to public consultation on previous draft regulations in January 2021:
- allowing greater flexibility in periodic monitoring of wind turbine noise, specifically the use of alternate assessment points.
- continuing to allow for stakeholder agreements with wind farm operators.
Table 1. Requirements for wind farm operators
| Requirement in the interim regulations | Changes in the proposed regulations |
| Ongoing compliance with the relevant noise standard | No change |
| For properties subject to new stakeholder agreements, upper noise limit of 45dB or background sound plus 5 dB | Timeline of requirement coming into effect changed from 1 November 2021 to 1 June 2022 |
| Completing a post-construction noise assessment within 12 months of commencement of operations | Timeline of requirement coming into effect changed from 1 November 2021 to 1 June 2022 |
| Implementing a noise management plan, including a complaints management plan | Clarifying that the noise management plan must be provided to EPA upon request, with the timeline changed from 1 January 2021 to 1 June 2022. |
| Providing an annual statement detailing actions to ensure compliance, from 1 July 2022 | Due date changed from three months after the end of the financial year to four months, as per the original regulations |
| Conducting noise monitoring every five years, from 1 January 2024 | No change |
| No transitional provisions | Transitional provisions to preserve the requirements that applied under the interim regulations and any reports produced during this time |
How can I participate?
Please provide your feedback via the ‘Participate’ tab at the top of this website.
Please note that submissions to the previous consultation on wind farm noise regulation in January 2021 will not be considered as part of this consultation. Submitters to the previous consultation are welcome to provide additional or revised submissions to this consultation.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) will consider feedback and make recommendations on the final regulations or other regulatory options to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. It is intended that these will be introduced, along with a report of responses to public comments in mid-2022.
How can I find more information?
More information about the regulation of operational wind farm noise, including technical guidance is available from the Environment Protection Authority – Victoria (EPA).
Concerns about wind farm turbine noise should be raised directly with the wind farm operator. The operator will respond according to their complaints management procedures. If unresolved, concerns about noise pollution can be reported to EPA via the 24/7 Pollution Report hotline – 1300 372 842 or you can send an email to contact@epa.vic.gov.au.
For more information, see the document library for:
- a summary fact sheet
- the regulatory impact statement
- the draft regulations
- a response to comments from the previous public consultation.
For any questions or further comments about this consultation, please email windfarmnoise@delwp.vic.gov.au
Announcements, Australia, Health, Noise, Studies •
Source: Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health
Wind Farm Noise Laboratory Study
This project will use the best available measurements of sleep and physiological activation responses to a range of different noise types to carefully test noise impacts on sleep macro-structure (sleep stage distribution and wake time during the sleep period) and sleep micro-structure (brief arousal and physiological activation responses).
Participants who take part in the (CATI) and consent to being contacted about potential further involvement in this project, may be approached to take part in this phase of the study. Residents who have not been contacted via the CATI but would like to participate, are welcome to express their interest to partake in this experiment and will be considered.
What is the research question?
This study was the first direct investigation of real-world wind farm noise compared to traffic noise effects using gold-standard assessments of sleep (i.e., polysomnography that measures brainwaves and other physiological factors to determine sleep/wake). The aim was to assess self-reported (subjective) and direct objective measures of sleep quality in a carefully controlled laboratory environment to investigate relationships between noise, sleep disturbances and other factors.
What will the participants be expected to do?
Participants were booked to attend the sleep laboratory for seven consecutive nights (plus additional recovery nights if required to recover from the experimental nights), based on their availability and the availability of the laboratory. They resided in a private, self-contained bedroom (like a hotel room, with a king-size single bed, ensuite and shower facilities) and were welcome to use a shared lounge, kitchen and washing facilities.
We also posted a sleep monitoring device (like a FitBit) and sleep diary, that participants will be asked to use for two weeks prior to their laboratory stay.
Upon arrival at the sleep laboratory on the very first evening, participants were familiarised with the facility and the experimental procedures and given an opportunity to settle into your bedroom. After dinner, research personnel including trained sleep and sound technicians, set up participants with sleep-recording devices. Participants then undertook a listening test to examine annoyance and acceptability for sleep toward different noise types, and complete questionnaires.
At their usual bedtime, lights were turned off in participants’ bedrooms for sleep.
Each morning, four saliva samples at 15-minute intervals as a measure of stress-response (cortisol, and a 5th sample in the evening). Participants were then asked to complete a sequence of computerised tasks and questionnaire.
On a single occasion, a small hair sample was collected to measure long-term stress and, on another occasion, participants attended a 60-minute clinical audiology appointment at the Flinders Medical Centre Audiology Clinic.
What benefits will participants receive?
Full accommodation, all meals and snack was provided during the stay.
Participants received $100 per night reimbursement for their time, plus $200 upon successful completion of all 7 overnights. Participants travelling from rural areas received $400 for travel expenses and $100 for urban travel to the laboratory.
Location of the study
Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Nick Antic Laboratory located at 5 Laffer Drive, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042.
Who is eligible to participate?
- Anyone aged 18 and over.
- In particular, we are seeking interest from those who:
- Live <10 km away from a wind turbine
- Live adjacent to a busy main road
- Live in quiet areas unaffected by environmental noise
- Those who can travel to Adelaide and reside in the laboratory for 7 consecutive nights.
Who to contact and by what date?
Please contact Dr. Gorica Micic before December 2020.
Phone: +61 8 8201 2377
Email: WindFarmNoiseStudy@flinders.edu.au
More information:
Download the participant information sheet. Please register your interest using the form on the participant information sheet.
Wind Farm Noise Study at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Flinders University: background information, publications and presentations, survey, in-home study, and laboratory study, community liaison group.
Economics, Emissions, France, Publications •
Source: Fédération Environnement Durable
Nouveau livre concernant l’éolien – pour en finir avec les idées fausses
to put an end to misconceptions about wind energy]
Malgré toutes les objections et protestations, la progression éolienne se poursuit, au détriment de nos paysages et de nos finances. C’est pourquoi Patrice Cahart a rassemblé, dans un petit livre percutant, toutes les idées utiles sur ce sujet. Ancien inspecteur général des finances, il était bien placé pour dénoncer le gaspillage monumental que constitue l’éolien dans notre pays.
Les éoliennes reposent sur un mythe, suivant lequel elles permettraient de réduire les émissions de carbone. Or la part des énergies fossiles (gaz surtout) dans notre production d’électricité est déjà tombée au plus bas. Elle ne saurait baisser davantage. L’expansion éolienne ne peut au contraire qu’accroître les émissions nocives, car une éolienne, dans notre pays, ne fonctionne en moyenne qu’à 24% de sa capacité. Pour le complément, force est de se tourner vers le gaz, polluant et, de plus en plus, d’origine russe.
Le livre insiste aussi sur les conditions profondément anormales dans lesquelles l’éolien est financé. Les promoteurs se lancent avec un capital très faible, parfois un seul euro ! Les banques s’empressent de leur prêter tout le reste. Pourquoi cette faveur, refusée aux entreprises industrielles normales ? Parce que l’Etat garantit aux promoteurs éoliens, pendant vingt ans, une recette égale à peu près au double du prix de l’électricité sur le marché. Aucune autre branche de l’industrie française ne bénéficie d’un avantage aussi exorbitant.
Les sommes gigantesques attirées par ce moyen pour financer des investissements éoliens inutiles manqueront pour financer ceux qui sont réellement utiles au climat (isolation, voitures électriques, chauffage électriques, voitures électriques).
Entre les éoliennes et la France, il faut choisir.
Éditions Hugo Doc, 160 pages, 9,95 euros
L’énergie éolienne a-t-elle un vrai rôle à jouer dans le ” mix énergétique ” on ne relève-t-elle que d’une imposture plus juteuse pour ses producteurs et pour ses promoteurs que pour le commun des mortels ?
Vivons-nous l’ère des marchands de vent, dans le mauvais sens du mot ?
Patrice Cahart ne voudrait pas que l’on apporte une fausse solution au vrai problème que constitue le réchauffement de notre planète. Sachant qu’une éolienne ne fonctionne en moyenne, dans notre pays, qu’à 24 % de sa puissance, il est indispensable d’assurer le complément, et de recourir au gaz, polluant. L’éolien est donc une fausse énergie propre, une fausse énergie renouvelable.
Les éoliennes, dont certaines atteignent maintenant deux cents mètres de hauteur, ravagent nos paysages, qui sont le cadre de vie des Français, et l’une des bases de notre tourisme.
De surcroît, le courant d’origine éolienne coûte deux fois plus cher que celui des centrales nucléaires actuellement en service, dont l’exemple des États-Unis montre qu’on peut les prolonger durant une quarantaine d’années. La réalisation du programme éolien actuel engloutirait des dizaines de milliards qui seraient bien plus utiles ailleurs (développement des véhicules électriques, isolation des bâtiments).
Pour que vous retrouvez votre liberté de penser, Patrice Cahart vous donne les vrais clef du problème.
