Orleans turbines facing new laws

ORLEANS — Residents continue to push for tighter restrictions on wind turbine placement through amendments to the town's zoning law.

First, the town may add 250 feet to the setbacks from residences for wind turbines after a positive public hearing before the Town Council on Thursday night.

"There was no objection to anything," Supervisor Donna J. Chatterton said Friday.

MOVING FORWARD

The council will conduct a required state environmental quality review on the amendment to the zoning law. The proposed amendment also will be sent to Jefferson County Planning Board for its review.

"We have to push forward for protection for our community," said Patricia Boorhas-Miller, vice president of the Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization of Jefferson County.

Second, the residents want restrictions for turbines based on the noise levels.

KEEPING THE NOISE DOWN

Charles E. Ebbing, a retired acoustical engineer from LaFargeville, warned that the current zoning law's level of 50 decibels was not based on accurate background noise readings.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has said noise that is six or fewer decibels higher than background noise is acceptable.

"Background noise levels at your residence represent the expected measured noise level when all of the transient intruding noises produced by vehicle traffic, helicopters, airplanes, snowmobiles, dogs barking and so forth are not present," Mr. Ebbing said. "North country background noise levels are extremely low, especially at night. Typical levels are near 25 decibels."

So, on a calm night, the law would allow noise up to 25 decibels above the background noise, which is very objectionable to intolerable by DEC standards.
Wind farms make the most noise when there are stable atmospheric conditions — meaning there is no wind at ground level, but wind farther up, such as at the height of a turbine, he said Friday.

Mr. Ebbing said developer Iberdrola, which is proposing the 62-turbine Horse Creek Wind Farm, had neglected to consider that in its evaluation.

"They need to get realistic and unbiased background noise levels measured," Mr. Ebbing said.

EVALUATING FREQUENCIES

Mr. Ebbing, who worked in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning industry, also warned against the possibilities of low-frequency noise.

The method of measurement proposed by the wind developers does not evaluate the existence of low-frequency noise, he said.

"Excess low-frequency noise can affect both mental and physical functioning of our bodies," he said.

He said any law with noise stipulations needs measures stating who will verify compliance and what punishment a violation will incur.

He recommends forming a committee to consider an amendment to the noise stipulations of the zoning law. On Thursday, the Cape Vincent Town Council appointed a committee to work on a proposed zoning law and the town of Lyme also used a committee for its zoning law.

Without any changes, Mrs. Boorhas-Miller said, "We will face loud-noise issues."