October 2, 2013
West Virginia

West Virginia woman sues wind farm over vibrations, noise

W.Va. woman sues wind farm over vibrations, noise | The Associated Press | Oct 02, 2013 | www.herald-dispatch.com

A West Virginia woman who says she’s suffered physically and mentally from turbine vibration at a wind farm near Keyser is suing to have the operations shut down.

Anna Bell Saville lives about 1½ miles from the site and contends she’s lost the ability to enjoy her home and property. She sued Pinnacle Wind Farm LLC and its parent company, Rosemead, Calif.-based Edison Mission Group, in U.S. District Court in Martinsburg late Tuesday.

The 23 turbines on Green Mountain create low-frequency pulsation noise and vibration that is irritating, annoying and “at times, severely debilitating, causing core pulsations,” her complaint said.

The sound, vibrations and “light flicker” are so intense that they cause anxiety, tinnitus, and mental and emotional distress that often force her to leave home, Saville said.

She wants a federal judge to issue an injunction shutting down the turbines and is demanding reimbursement for lost wages and medical expenses. Saville also wants unspecified compensation for the annoyance.

Vice President Charlie Parnell said Edison Mission Group won’t comment on litigation, except to say it “strongly denies the allegations being made against the project, and we will defend ourselves vigorously.”

No hearings have been scheduled.

Last year, Edison Mission Group announced it would spend $500,000 on sound muffling devices to address complaints.

Parnell said that project was finished by midyear, and by all accounts, has been a significant improvement.

The upgrade was prompted by a separate noise complaint filed with the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

[rest of article available at source]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/10/02/west-virginia-woman-sues-wind-farm-over-vibrations-noise/