April 10, 2012
West Virginia

Wind farm operator says equipment will dampen noise

By Staff reports, The Charleston Gazette, sundaygazettemail.com 9 April 2012

WILEY FORD, W.Va. – Following complaints from residents living near the Pinnacle Wind Energy project on Green Mountain in Mineral County, noise abatement equipment will be installed on all 22 turbines making up the 55-megawatt facility, the company said Monday.

“Based on concerns expressed by some area residents, we performed extensive analysis of the noise from these turbines,” Charley Parnell, a spokesman for project operator Edison Mission Group, said in a news release. “We believe Pinnacle is operating in a manner that meets the requirements of our permits, but taking additional steps to mitigate noise is an important part of our commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen of the communities in which we operate.”

Residents had filed a complaint over excessive noise with the state Public Service Commission.

A prototype acoustic louver was recently used in a field test at one of the Pinnacle turbines, producing a significant reduction in noise, according to Edison Mission Group. The company will spend about $500,000 to add the noise abatement gear to all turbines at the project.

Edison Mission also will re-surface portions of two public roads adjacent to the site, the company announced on Monday.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/10/wind-farm-operator-says-equipment-will-dampen-noise/