Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Terminology used as a smoke screen

Posted with the permission of The Naples Record, originally published Wednesday June 3, 2009

I attended the informational session that EcoGen conducted on May 21st at the Prattsburgh School. Peter Guldberg, EcoGen's acoustical engineer, told us about the difference in sound levels of their proposed turbines from those in Cohocton.

I believe, since I have also studied each company's sound data, that the number (60 percent quieter) used is accurate. However, the terminology that the he used was nothing more than a smoke screen to make us believe that the turbines EcoGen will use are quieter than those in Cohocton.

After I questioned his methodology, Mr. Guldberg did admit (very quietly, I might add) th'at the real difference would be only 2db (EcoGen's at 106db versus Cochocton's at 108db). To you and I listening from our decks or our homes the small 2db difference in sound level would be indistinguishable. The long-term effects of certain sound pressure levels can be debilitating as evidenced in Cohocton.

Don't be fooled by their high tech terminology - the sound from the proposed turbines will be (as they are in Cohocton) dis-turbing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact your town officials and let them know you want an independent sound study done. Don't wait until it's too late and you are living with the constant noise like people in Cohocton!

Al Wordingham, Cook School Rd., Prattsburgh

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