Wind Power News: Complaints
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Noise from Antrim wind turbines draws complaints
ANTRIM – The controversy that has long dogged Antrim Wind Energy continues, with a number of people who live near the site raising concerns about the amount of noise produced there. On Wednesday, the N.H. Site Evaluation Committee held a virtual meeting during which members heard comments from neighbors of the facility. They said the wind farm, a nine-turbine facility that went into service on Dec. 24, 2019, has been a significant detriment to their quality of life. The Site Evaluation . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines disturb local farmer
MACOMB – Jeffrey Butler, a member of the McDonough County Farm Bureau, told the county board’s law and legal committee Monday that having his farm near two wind turbines has caused some disruptions. He suggested the board consider adding language to its wind farm ordinance that might solve some of the problems. Butler said a new setback guideline might be considered. “I think 1800 feet is too close,” he said. Noise levels experienced from being near the wind turbines have led . . . Complete story »
Farmers say MidAmerican reneging on promise to pay for wind turbine construction damage
About two-dozen farmers and landowners in western Iowa say MidAmerican Energy is failing to fully pay them for damage caused when building an 81-turbine wind farm in Ida County. It’s another point of tension in the relationship between rural residents and the Des Moines company, which has made Iowa a national leader in wind generation, building about 3,000 turbines across the state. The group filed a complaint with the utility, owned by billionaire Warren Buffett, saying the company has failed . . . Complete story »
Renewable Energy and Human Rights benchmark
Nearly half the companies benchmarked (7/16) scored below 10%, with three quarters (12/16) scoring below 40%. The average score was just 22%, indicating that, as a whole, the industry has a long way to go to demonstrate its respect for the human rights of communities and workers in their operations and supply chains. Complete story »
Novak faces subpoena; Wind farm targets private emails
After unsuccessfully trying to get copies of commissioner Dianne Novak’s personal emails with an open records request, a wind farm concerned about her possible role in aiding its opponents says it will subpoena those emails from her directly. Expedition Wind last month filed a lawsuit seeking more than $35 million from Peabody farmer Randy Eitzen and five other defendants. The defendants are plaintiffs who did not withdraw from a lawsuit filed last August against the county. Although Novak is not . . . Complete story »
Wagner men claim local wind turbines violate county commission agreement
That affidavit stated Prevailing Wind Park agreed to ensure wind turbines constructed in Charles Mix County met a number of criteria related to noise, lighting, shadow flicker and ice. Among the criteria specified were that noise levels from turbines were not to exceed 43 dBA without a waiver at residences of those who weren't participating in the project and that either control systems would automatically shut down turbines or Prevailing Wind Park would do so manually when ice conditions were identified. Powers and Petrik asserted in their affidavit that those noise and ice criteria are not being met, that some of Prevailing Wind Park's building permits for the turbines expired in January and that the county commission, based on its agreement with Pawlowski, has no authority to make Prevailing Wind Park comply with that agreement. Complete story »
Sheffield wind noise investigation concluded
SHEFFIELD – A probe into noise levels which allegedly exceeded its state-issued Certificate of Public Good (CPG) at the industrial wind project in Sheffield has been closed officially by the Vermont Public Utilities Commission (PUC). A recent order also approved a stipulation between the owners of the energy plant, Vermont Wind, LLC, and the neighbor who pushed for the investigation. The CPG allowing the wind project to operate was issued by the state body in October of 2007. Nearby homeowner Paul . . . Complete story »
Sheffield wind case: Timeline of years-long sound level fight
SHEFFIELD – A case before the Vermont Public Utility Commission (formerly the Public Service Board) over noise levels being allegedly exceeded from turbines at the industrial wind project in Sheffield has been concluded, and an agreement between the parties, Vermont Wind, LLC, and Sutton homeowner Paul Brouha of Sutton, has been issued. A timeline of the case, which dates back just over six years officially – but concerns were documented starting in 2011 – follows from the public record in the decision by . . . Complete story »
Vermont homeowner reaches settlement over wind project noise
SHEFFIELD, Vt. (AP) – A Vermont homeowner has reached a settlement for a complaint he made about the noise coming from a wind project near his house. Paul Brouha filed a complaint in 2014 alleging that the turbines belonging to Vermont Wind, LLC created noise in his home that exceeded regulations, the Caledonian-Record reported Monday. A settlement between Brouha and the company was reached Feb. 3, in which Vermont Wind agreed to stipulations that temporarily restrict when certain turbines can operate. . . . Complete story »
Toll taken by Hoosac Wind
On a Sunday in late April, Hoosac Wind was noisy into the early morning hours of the following Monday. I called the neighbor concern line for Iberdrola/Evangrid around 2 a.m. after not being able to sleep because of noise and vibrations from the project in our bedroom. Lois wasn’t able to sleep either and we both got up this morning very tired and feeling beat! This is three calls to the line by me since Feb. 20 with no response. . . . Complete story »
