Resource Documents: Massachusetts (48 items)
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Oils, Fuels, Gases and Lubricants
Author: Sunrise Wind
Table 3.3.1-2. Summary of Maximum Potential Volumes, Oils, Fuels, Gas and Lubricants for the Onshore Converter Station
| Onshore Converter Station Equipment/System | Oil/Fuel/Gas Type | Total Oil/Fuel/Gas Volume |
| (2) High-Voltage Shunt Reactor (fixed) | Mineral Oil Dielectric Fluid | 26,640 gallons (gal) (100,844 liters [L]) |
| (2) High-Voltage Shunt Reactor (variable) | Mineral Oil Dielectric Fluid | 37,000 gal (140,060 L) |
| (4) 345/275-kV Grid Transformers | Mineral Oil Dielectric Fluid | 37,693 gal (107,014 L) |
| Gas-Insulated Switchgear Bay | Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) | 3,500 lbs |
Table 3.3.6-2. Summary of Maximum Potential Volumes Oils, Fuels, Gases and Lubricants for Offshore Converter Station
| Equipment | Oil/Fuel/Gas Type | Oil/Fuel/Gas Volume |
| Transformers and Reactors | Transformer Oil | 105,700 gal (400,000 L) |
| Generator fuel tank | Diesel Fuel | 24,304 gal (92,000 L) |
| Medium and High-Voltage Gas-Insulated Switchgears | Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) | 3,960 lbs (1,796 kg) |
| Crane | Hydraulic Oil | 528 gal (2,000 L) |
| Crane* | Grease | TBD |
| Rotating Equipment* | Lube Oil | TBD |
| Auxiliary Diesel Generator | Lube Oil | 53 gal (200 L) |
| Seawater Lift Pumps | Lube Oil | 119 gal (450 L) |
| Auxiliary Inert Gas System | High-Pressure Nitrogen | 52,834 gal (200,000 L), at 300 bar |
| Auxiliary Diesel Generator Fire Suppression System* | Inert Gas | TBD |
| Auxiliary Transformers | Synthetic Ester Oil | 3,170 gal (12,000 L) |
| Chiller units | Refrigerant HFO1234ze(E) | 40 gal (150 L) |
| Compressed Air Foam System* | Foam Concentrate | TBD |
| Uninterruptible Power Supply Battery* | Battery Acid | TBD |
| Cooling Medium System | Glycol/Water Mix | 7,925 gal (30,000 L) |
| Chilled Water Medium System | Glycol/Water Mix | 5,283 gal (20,000 L) |
Table 3.3.8-2. Summary of Maximum Potential Volumes Oils, Fuels, Gases and Lubricants per wind turbine generator
| System/Component | Oil/Fuel/Gas Type | Oil/Fuel/Gas Volume |
| WTG Bearings and Yaw Pinions | Grease* | 132 gal (500 L) |
| Hydraulic Pumping Unit, Hydraulic Pitch Actuators, Hydraulic Pitch Accumulators | Hydraulic Oil | 159 gal (600 L) |
| Yaw Drives Gearbox | Gear Oil | 79 gal (300 L) |
| Blades and Generator Accumulators | Nitrogen | 104 cubic yd (80 m³) |
| High-Voltage Transformer | Transformer Silicon/Ester Oil | 1,850 gal (7,000 L) |
| Emergency Generator† | Diesel Fuel | 793 gal (3,000 L) |
| Tower Damper and Cooling System | Glycol/Coolants | 3,434 gal (13,000 L) |
*Approximately 26 gal to 40 gal (100 L to 150 L) per large bearing.
†Emergency generator is not housed on the WTG but would be brought to the WTG during commissioning or in an emergency power outage.
Submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
August 19, 2022
Download original document: “Sunrise Wind Farm Project: Construction and Operations Plan”
Re: Falmouth Wind II Turbine Relocation Study
Author: Rand, Robert
This letter (PDF attached) is respectfully submitted to the Town of Falmouth to provide a qualified professional opinion about the proposed relocation of Wind II. This is submitted independently as a courtesy to the Town free of compensation from any party.
The original permittings for Wind I and Wind II (and NOTUS) resulted in neighbor complaints soon after start-up and were confirmed to exceed Falmouth’s 40-dBA noise limit (turbines sited too close). Weston & Sampson’s relocation recommendation for Wind II appears to be inconsistent with the Town 40 dBA noise limit and the 2017 Barnstable Superior Court Decision.
1. The distance to meet 40 dBA for Wind II, a Vestas V82 with sound power level of 110 dBA, is approximately 891 meters or 2923 feet. This is greater than the setback distances provided by the proposed new location. The proposed new location is still too close.
2. At 2147 and 2244 feet listed in the subject report, the expected sound level is 43 dBA.
3. Use of the proposed new location appears certain to result in the relocated wind turbine’s maximum noise levels exceeding the Falmouth noise limit of 40 dBA.
4. Use of the proposed new location appears certain to result in the relocated wind turbine’s maximum noise levels exceeding established background sound levels of 27-28 dBA by over 10 dB, breaching State 10-dB noise limits.
Supporting detail is provided in the attached PDF. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert W. Rand, ASA, INCE
October 26, 2018
—
Robert W. Rand, Member ASA, INCE
Rand Acoustics
Tel: 207-632-1215
Fax: 206-339-3441
Web: http://randacoustics.com
TO:
Mr. Julian M. Suso, Town Manager
Mr. Rod Palmer, Building Commissioner
Town of Falmouth
59 Town Hall Square
Falmouth, MA 02540
Re: Wind Turbine Relocation Study, Weston & Sampson Report, October 12, 2018
Download original document: “Re: Wind Turbine Relocation Study”
Connecticut, Delaware, Economics, Emissions, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont •
Review of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Author: Stevenson, David
The nearly decade-old Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was always meant to be a model for a national program to reduce power plant carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explicitly cited it in this fashion in its now-stayed Clean Power Plan. Although the RGGI is often called a “cap and trade” program, its effect is the same as a direct tax or fee on emissions because RGGI allowance costs are passed on from electric generators to distribution companies to consumers. More recently, an influential group of former cabinet officials, known as the “Climate Leadership Council,” has recommended a direct tax on CO₂; emissions (Shultz and Summers 2017).
Positive RGGI program reviews have been from RGGI, Inc. (the program administrator) and the Acadia Center, which advocates for reduced emissions (see Stutt, Shattuck, and Kumar 2015). In this article, I investigate whether reported reductions in CO₂ emissions from electric power plants, along with associated gains in health benefits and other claims, were actually achieved by the RGGI program. Based on my findings, any form of carbon tax is not the policy to accomplish emission reductions. The key results are:
- There were no added emissions reductions or associated health benefits from the RGGI program.
- Spending of RGGI revenue on energy efficiency, wind, solar power, and low-income fuel assistance had minimal impact.
- RGGI allowance costs added to already high regional electric bills. The combined pricing impact resulted in a 13 percent drop in goods production and a 35 percent drop in the production of energy intensive goods. Comparison states increased goods production by 15 percent and only lost 4 percent of energy intensive manufacturing. Power imports from other states increased from 8 percent to 17 percent.
David Stevenson is Director of the Center for Energy Competitiveness at the Caesar Rodney Institute. He prepared this working paper for Cato’s Center for the Study of Science.
Download original document: “A Review of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative”
Falmouth wind turbines: Decision for larger, overlooked louder
Author: Ambrose, Stephen
Separation distance is the solitary wind turbine noise control method to assure protections for public health and compatibility with the area. (Two international consensus guidelines may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a regulatory statute: WHO 2009 Table 1 noise effects on health, and ANSI S12.9, Parts 4 & 5 assessment of compatibility.) A direct relationship connects sound power level (Lw) to noise source distance: ISO 9613-2, section 7.1: Adiv = 20Log(m) + 11 dB. The MassDEP regulates the maximum noise level increase (LI) to more than 10 dB (Lmax) above the baseline ambient (BA) L90, without the noise source when measured (or predicted) at the neighbor’s property line (PL). A simple equation predicts the highest allowed sound power level by distance: Lw = Adiv + LI + BA.
1. Locate Wind-1, Wind-2 and Notus on Google Earth (GE),
2. Using GE’s ruler circle draw, measure each wind turbine distance to the nearest residential property lines.
3. The highest allowed wind turbine sound power levels are shown in the table below comparing manufacturers published noise data.
Falmouth Wind Turbines: Cape Cod Commission vs acoustic experts
The Cape Cod Commission recognizes that wind turbines harm public health when installed near residential communities. Unfortunately, wind turbine acoustic experts emphasize sound measurements and noise predictions, omitting assessing for activity disturbance and nuisance. The Commission has chosen an alternative and potentially a more reliable screening tool than blind and deaf noise level predictions, by imposing a mandatory setback distance based on 10 times the rotor diameter. How effective is their approach?
1. Locate Wind-1, Wind-2 and Notus on Google Earth (GE),
2. Using GE’s ruler circle draw, measure each wind turbine distance to the nearest residential property lines.
3. Divide the property line distance by 10.
4. Use Siemens sound power chart (Low-noise wind turbine design, Stefan Oerlemans, Peter Fuglsang, Siemens Wind Power A/S, 2012 EWEA-Noise-Workshop-Oxford-2012-1-1-Stefan-Oerlemans.pdf (page 11)) to estimate maximum allowable wind turbine sound power level (Lw) from rotor diameter. Compare to wind turbine sound power levels.
