September 21, 2013
Indiana

E.ON addressing complaints; Noise mitigation options in place by Tuesday

By Ken de la Bastide | Kokomo Tribune | September 21, 2013 | kokomotribune.com

TIPTON – The developer of the operating Wildcat Wind Farm in eastern Tipton County is addressing citizen complaints, a representative of the company said.

Andy Melka, project manager for E.ON Climate & Renewables, provided an update on the status of complaints about the wind farm to the Tipton County Plan Commission Thursday at the Tipton County Foundation.

Melka said a June study found on May 20, the 50-decibel noise limit was exceeded by one turbine. He said the level was 51.6 decibels.

“There was a potential turbine operating issue,” he said. “The turbine was not facing the wind properly. The wind was coming from 240 degrees and the turbine positioned itself at 220 degrees.”

Melka said mitigation measures will be in place by Tuesday. He said there will be a permanent fix in the near future. Melka said an option being considered is to lower the speed of the rotor as the wind speed exceeds 9 meters per second.

He said the company received 26 complaints about the loss of broadcast television reception in the area of the Wildcat Wind Farm. Melka said four the complaints have been withdrawn, 15 have been completed, three are in progress.

Two of the complaints are awaiting the residential property owner to schedule an appointment with the company’s antenna expert and no contact has been made with two property owners complainants.

Concerning satellite television reception problems, Melka said the satellites are set at 30 degrees above the horizon. He said turbines located at 1,250 feet from a residence are set at 21.8 degrees above the horizon.

Melka said cellular telephone and Internet providers have indicated reception problems in the Windfall area are their problem.

“The providers have told us there are no issues with reception in the rest of the county from wind turbines,” he said.

Melka reported all the updates to the roads in Madison and Tipton counties in the Wildcat Wind Farm area are complete and have been approved by county engineers.

The Wildcat Wind Farm, located in eastern Tipton County and northwestern Madison County, went into operation last December. The second phase of the development is planned for Howard and Grant counties with phase three to be located in Howard and Tipton counties. Phase two is expected to be completed by Sept. 1, 2015 and phase three by Sept. 1, 2017.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/21/e-on-addressing-complaints-noise-mitigation-options-in-place-by-tuesday/