| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
It’s monotonous and intrusive
Credit: Cumberland Times-News | www.times-news.com ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
It started in earnest on Monday, Nov. 6. It was going full-blast Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, except for some slower rotations during the early to late mornings.
On Saturday, the 11th – relief! The only problem is, it will begin again, often on Sundays; hopefully not until Monday.
At one time, for 30 years or more, there was no intrusion at all. That was until wind turbines moved into the area.
There are thousands of people, worldwide, who find their lives disrupted because of infrasound, a sound that is lower in frequency, than 20 Hz, (or cycles per second, which constitute the supposed “normal” limit of human hearing). These sound vibrations cover long distances with little disintegration.
In our household, only one of us can hear the “noise” from the wind turbine, which we judge to be about four miles away, near Frostburg.
From research we learned that infrasound can be caused by many things: earthquakes, ocean waves, fans, vibrating pipes; even animals. Whales and elephants produce infrasound to communicate with one another.
According to research and experiments, some individuals can hear in the lower limit range of audible frequency (infrasound) and in the higher limit range (ultrasound) as well. Some can hear these lower and higher sounds while others do not.
What does the turbine sound like? It sounds like wind blowing at a constant, unvarying level.
It is monotonous and intrusive and takes precedence over all other sounds. There is no way to “block it out.”
Earplugs, covering ears with pillows and sound therapy machines do not work. It is as if the noise goes right through one’s head. It is on the inside as well as outside, of the house and body.
In the beginning, one could hear the turbine only once per month, and usually for only two or three days. Since then the hours of operation have increased to several days per week.
Now it can be heard so much that there are only two (at most three) days of peace. It is especially troublesome at bedtime when the turbine is going full-speed. It definitely interferes with a decent night’s rest.
My question is: Why cannot turbines be inoperative, at least through night hours?
That would be so welcomed, chiefly since our Constitution gives us the promise of domestic tranquillity.
Do turbines belong in populated areas? Certainly we need more research on this question.
This topic is controversial. Some who advocate for wind power anywhere say those who are opposed “make up” the stories about turbines causing personal distress and disturbance.
This is not true in our household and we would be glad to report when turbines become inoperative during nights. Would that not prove the point? Even though only one of us hears the sounds, everyone else here is affected, as they hear the complaints!
Nancy Lawrence
LaVale
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=85711 ]
