A Brief Review Of The Hoosac Wind Turbine Noise Studies

Transcription

1 November 22, 2013 A Brief Review Of The Hoosac Wind Turbine Noise Studies Stephen E. Ambrose Principal Consultant, INCE Board Certified & Robert W. Rand Principal Consultant, INCE Acoustics, Environmental Sound & Industrial Noise Control S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 1

2 Themes considered for this presentation: S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 2

3 Themes considered for this presentation: 1. Another study to mislead neighbors S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 3

4 Themes considered for this presentation: 1. Another study to mislead neighbors, 2. History of Hoosac wind turbine studies S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 4

5 Themes considered for this presentation: 1. Another study to mislead neighbors, 2. History of Hoosac wind turbine studies, 3. Blind eyes and deaf ears S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 5

6 Themes considered for this presentation: 1. Another study to mislead neighbors, 2. History of Hoosac wind turbine studies, 3. Blind eyes and deaf ears, 4. Evidence that demands a verdict S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 6

7 Themes considered for this presentation: 1. Another study to mislead neighbors, 2. History of Hoosac wind turbine studies, 3. Blind eyes and deaf ears, 4. Evidence that demands a verdict, Winner: Back to the Future II Acknowledgements: Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 7

8 S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 8

9 This is a true story, depicted by Marty and Doc. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 9

10 Their mission: identify the ignored warnings in the Hoosac wind turbine studies S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 10

11 Only then can Marty and Doc correct significant warnings in history. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 11

12 That opened rifts into an alternate universe, where noisy wind turbines were permitted to invade homes. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 12

13 The wayback clock is set OCT S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 13

14 First study S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 14

15 Paragraph 2 S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 15

16 Doc, this is good news, Project Manager says this will benefit neighbors Wait Marty, how can this be? We need to assess the existing noise environment. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 16

17 Florida and Monroe are rural, so how quiet? Let s ask an expert for help. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 17

18 There are no busy roads or commercial activity. This chart shows a Quiet Rural Nighttime at 25 dba and even less. 40 dba 30 dba Quiet Rural Nighttime 20 dba S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 18

19 Doc, does Massachusetts have noise limits for large wind turbines. Yes, let s look at the MassDEP noise policy. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 19

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26 Will neighbors complain? Marty, ISO has a simple table. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 26

27 Noise Complaint Response Levels International Standards Organization ISO :2003 dba above noise level criterion Estimated Community Response Category Description 0 None No Observed Reaction 5 Little Sporadic Complaints 10 Medium Widespread Complaints 15 Strong Threats of Community Action 20 Very Strong Vigorous Community Action Stephen E. Ambrose, INCE Bd.Cert. 27

28 Doc, this is easy. No noise louder than sporadic complaints. We need to read the report to find the Acoustical Study. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 28

29 S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 29

30 Doc, they wrote this without knowing how quiet the area is? Marty, they failed to design to be good acoustic neighbors. Let s look at the noise data they used in Appendix E. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 30

31 Wind speed; 10 m height at 8 m/s S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 31

32 Maximum noise level required for each receptor location 55 dba. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 32

33 The existing ambient noise level is 55 dba? Marty, this is a BIG Mistake! Quiet Rural Nighttime is less than 30 dba, 55 dba is TOO LOUD. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 33

34 Maximum noise level required for each receptor location. Predicted wind turbine noise level S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 34

35 Maximum noise level required for each receptor location. Predicted wind turbine noise level Complies less than 55 dba S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 35

36 This is crazy! 55 dba makes it look like the turbine noise is quieter than ambient. GREAT SCOTT!! You re right Marty, they failed to apply the MassDEP regulations. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 36

37 Second study S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 37

38 S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 38

39 Lawn Tiller at 50-ft? S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 39

40 65 dba turbine - 30 dba ambient 35 db increase S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 40

41 65 dba turbine + 20 db max 85 dba - 30 dba ambient 55 db increase S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 41

42 65 dba turbine + 10 db max 75 dba - 30 dba ambient 45 db increase S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 42

43 Doc, this Florida Board decision makes no sense. A peer-review by a community noise expert would have predicted Very Strong reaction. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 43

44 Widespread Complaints!! MassDEP recognizes this, turbine max noise no more than 10 db above ambient (L90). S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 44

45 + 20 db is the HIGHEST REACTION!!! Marty!! This is INCREDIBLE! It is OFF THE CHART. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 45

46 Third study S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 46

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48 No nearby residence identified!! S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 48

49 Comparison Chart of Noise Levels S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 49

50 Quiet Rural Area; 30 dba >>> no Insects, traffic or wind in trees Quiet Winter Night; 20 dba >>> Wilderness; no Insects, traffic or wind in trees S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 50

51 RSG shows Quiet Rural Area Marty, it s INCREDIBLE!! They do not use their own chart. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 51

52 How can a Quiet Rural Area be ignored? Increase background ambient with wind? S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 52

53 Measure wind noise? Look at the Hoosac measurement pictures, sound level meters are too close to trees. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 53

54 Microphones S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 54

55 How loud is a 1.5 MW turbine? We need to ask Rob Rand. He MEASURES wind turbine noise by DISTANCE. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 55

56 1.5 MW turbine, 42 dba at 1200-ft and 2000-ft LIGHT WINDS 1200-ft 2000-ft Robert Rand, Rand Acoustics S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 56

57 Caution! Trend line shows potential for 47 dba at 1200-ft Robert Rand, Rand Acoustics S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 57

58 Doc, 42, 47 dba at 1200-ft!! Marty, measurements cannot be ignored, more reliable than predictions, must be used to validate predictions. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 58

59 Can wind turbine noise measurements mislead? Yes, when the turbine is not operating properly. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 59

60 Really? GE 1.5 MW turbines produce an acoustic fingerprint, a tone at 160 Hz band. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 60

61 125 Hz, Slowed RPM 160 Hz S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 61

62 100 Hz, Slower RPM 160 Hz S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 62

63 How else? A graph by Chris Kapsambelis was in Rob s peer-review. Chris plotted the turbine power output vs. wind speed given in the Hoosac Sound Study with the published GE 1.5sle data. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 63

64 Robert Rand Rand Acoustics 9 m/s S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 64

65 Wow, a double whammy! These graphs raise questions about their noise measurements? S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 65

66 No nearby residence identified!! S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 66

67 They confirmed, Hoosac turbines OVER 10 db! 43 dba TOO LOUD! By their own data tables? S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 67

68 Turbines Not at Rated Power Output 12 db increase 13 db increase S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 68

69 Hoosac too low noise levels are above the MassDEP noise limit. Incredible!! Again, measurements show, Hoosac too loud! And at too low power output! S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 69

70 Marty!... This is proof! They do not know how to be GOOD ACOUSTIC NEIGHBORS! S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 70

71 Doc! are neighbors protected by blind eyes and deaf ears? Marty, you re right, these reports present evidence that demands a verdict. S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 71

72 Community Response Prediction Pederson & Waye 2004 No Observed Effect Level Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 72

73 Community Response Prediction Hoosac L90 Nite Existing S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 73

74 Community Response Prediction Predicted Existing S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 74

75 Community Response Prediction Existing Measured Low Power Predicted S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 75

76 Community Response Prediction Hoosac Response Measured Low Power Existing Predicted S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 76

77 S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 77

78 Thank You Stephen E. Ambrose Principal Consultant, INCE Board Certified & Robert W. Rand Principal Consultant, INCE Acoustics, Environmental Sound & Industrial Noise Control S E. Ambrose & R W Rand, INCE Members 78