December 19, 2015
Vermont

PSB will investigate noise complaints at Sheffield wind project

By Howard Weiss-Tisman | Vermont Public Radio | December 18, 2015 | vpr.net

The Public Service Board will open an investigation into noise complaints stemming from the Vermont Wind project in Sheffield.

Paul Brouha, who lives near the site, originally filed a complaint with the Public Service Board in March 2014.

Brouha said the commercial wind project was in violation of its certificate of public good because sound levels at his home near the turbines exceeded thresholds set by the state.

Brouha declined to comment on the pending PSB hearing, but his attorney Denise Anderson says Brouha believes that the monitoring of the sound off of the turbines has not been done properly.

“Mr. Brouha’s position is the same as it always has been,” Anderson says. “He is holding Vermont Wind accountable to the requirements under the noise monitoring plan, and the other conditions, of the CPG.”

The certificate of public good for the Northeast Kingdom wind project was issued in 2007, and the turbines were built by Boston-based First Wind in 2011.

SunEdison, which acquired First Wind in 2014, did not respond to an email requesting a comment.

Brouha included a sound study in his original complaint, and the Department of Public Service did its own independent analysis of Brouha’s study.

In October of this year the state said that it was possible that sound at the Brouha residence may have approached levels that violate conditions of the certificate of public good.

The PSB last week agreed to open a hearing on the noise issue.

Brouha is asking the PSB to require permanent, continuous sound monitoring at his home by a third party.

The Public Service Board has scheduled a hearing for Jan. 8 to determine if additional clarification of the sound standards is needed, and whether the commercial wind project is in violation of its certificate of public good.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/19/psb-will-investigate-noise-complaints-at-sheffield-wind-project/