December 26, 2010
Letters, Maine

Too close for comfort

Bangor Daily News, www.bangordailynews.com 23 December 2010

I fully concur with those groups seeking a wind power moratorium (BDN Dec. 20 editorial, “LePage Right on Wind”). Consider the following.

The First Wind project at Mars Hill went online in 2007 and it became obvious the turbines were much too close to many homes. Turbine noise levels were routinely exceeding Department of Environmental Protection allowed levels at homes downwind from the turbines. Pre-construction noise modeling of the project had been seriously flawed. Clearly, wind turbines within a half-mile of homes were simply too close to meet noise criteria.

Every project since Mars Hill has been allowed to proceed and place turbines too close to homes. The computer noise model being used is seriously flawed and our environmental protection agency evidently has been prevented from acting by the Baldacci administration.

DEP inaction has given us the Freedom and Vinalhaven projects with the same excessive turbine noise problem. Construction has begun at Lincoln and approved at Oakfield using the same flawed noise modeling. At this very moment turbines are being placed too close to homes.

The solution is so simple – just require more physical setback from homes.

Construction should be halted until DEP revises citing criteria so that people near future wind power development can continue to live in their homes.

Dennis Small

Oakfield


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/12/26/too-close-for-comfort-2-2/