March 9, 2013
Michigan

Wind park sound survey on county agenda

Kevin Braciszeski - Daily News Staff Writer | Ludington Daily News | March 8, 2013 | www.ludingtondailynews.com

The Mason County Board of Commissioners could hire a firm Tuesday to conduct a required sound survey for Lake Winds Energy Park.

The county’s planning commission sought proposals for the study from consultants and is recommending the county board hire HGC Engineering for the work.

The company has past experience in measuring noise levels at wind energy facilities including work at four sites in Ontario, Canada.

The timeline HGC has proposed includes two to four weeks for coordination, initial public meeting and scheduling site work; seven to 10 days for site work, with staff spending about four of those days at the wind farm; and six to eight weeks for analysis and reporting after the measurements are collected.

The price tag the company put on the study is not to exceed $38,425.

In its application, HGC includes the following as parts of its work:

• refining the protocol, including methodology and deciding the number and location of testing sites.

• attending a public meeting with the planning commission to coordinate the final testing sites and answer questions.

• seeking permission from private property owners for testing during the day and night.

The county board is scheduled to consider approving a contract with HGC when it meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday.