July 25, 2007  Prince Edward Island, Blogs, Nova Scotia

Visit to Elmira PEI, a Vestas Wind Farm, and with Dwayne and Kevin Bailey

On July 20, 2007 Ruth & I decided to drive from the Gulf Shore to Elmira, which is on the northeastern tip of PEI, to visit with Dwayne Bailey and his father, Kevin, and view the new local wind farm. Both abandoned their lifelong homes because they could not tolerate the noise from this facility.

The Elmira wind farm uses Vestas V90 turbines. Each is approximately 120 meters high with blade diameters of 90 meters, average rotational speed of 16 rpm and power outputs of three megawatts each. Vestas turbines were used at Pubnico, and are also proposed for the Gulf Shore. Initial plans here were for 30 turbines, so far 10 have been placed. This could be the first of several proposed projects along the northeast shore.

We met Dwayne and Kevin at their old homes in Elmira. Their farm is across the road from the wind turbines, about 1 km away. This is traditional farmland with fields and scattered woodlands. Their farm was set on a slight hill rising from the road to the fields behind the homes. The Baileys are lobster fishermen who rent their farmland out for crops “so that the weeds do not take over the place”. Dwayne is a volunteer firefighter as well.

Dwayne reported that the wind farm was a PEI Provincial Government project. There were two initial community information meetings. Approximately $40,000 was offered for a community centre, and bonds were issued for those residents who wanted to invest in the project.

He said that a transmission line was constructed from Souris to take the power from these and other proposed turbines to the Maritime Electric Power grid. The plant was operational February 2007. Except for some basic construction and excavation work, plus crane work by Irving, Vestas did the majority of the installation. The site now has two to four employees. There was very little local employment as a result of this project.

Breakdowns and repairs were common. It was rare to have all 10 turbines working together. Dwayne stated that a few months ago, a portion of a rotor flew off one of the turbines and landed on a company vehicle’s hood.

When we first drove into their yard, our initial impression was that their one kilometer setback distance should be fine. However, their problems began within weeks after the turbines started operating. When they were downwind from the turbines, and the air was moving just enough to turn them, (12-15 knots from the northeast), the noise was loud. It was a repetitive modulated drone of sound. Dwayne and Kevin both claimed it sometimes was loud enough to rattle the windows of their homes. The sound was even worse in the field behind their homes. Distances from 1 to 1.5 kilometers were the areas of the most annoying sounds. This spring the winds created constant misery.

Dwayne developed headaches, popping and ringing ears, and could not sleep. He tried new glasses, prescription sleep aids and earplugs, to no avail.

Dwayne’s two year old was sleeping well prior to the wind farm, but began waking up, 5-6 times a night.

Kevin Bailey stated, “When you are outside working and absorbed in what you are doing, you are OK. If inside, resting or reading, it’s a problem. Forget about sleeping at night. The repetitions would go away, you think that it is gone, and it comes back again.” Kevin tried sound dampening by draping the front walls inside his house, and sleeping in the back, but this did not work.

Kevin had problems with his electrical appliances. The fridge, water heater and power meter all vibrated. He purchased a new fridge, and it was just as bad. When the fridge was moved to the new house, the vibrations were gone.

They complained to the province and the municipality, but no one would take them seriously. One official suggested it was too quiet there which is a funny kind of problem to have. There was not enough ambient background noise to block out the sound.

Both families moved two weeks ago and they are feeling better. “We had to move back into town to get away from the noise.”

They could not in all good conscience sell the homes, but if they did, they felt new purchasers would soon be demanding their money back.

Dwayne said, “We have had six generations of little feet running through the grass, but now that is gone.”

Kevin noted, “All we ever had here was peace and quiet, and poverty. Now we only have poverty.”

We toured the wind farm site. Initially the winds were 12-14 knots. Downwind at 500 meters there was a loud rhythmic whooshing sound coming from each of the turbines that could be easily identified with their rotation. At least three or four turbines could be heard at once. The sounds were out of sync and confused. At 300 meters each turbine was very noisy from any direction. There is absolutely no way you could live next to a turbine at this distance. We stood at the base. There were many sounds. Electrical high pitched humming, the deep whoosh of the sails or rotors as they sweep past every 5 seconds, a steady swish of the rotor tips, which are cutting through the air at 240 kilometers per hour. When the wind changed, the rotors made a sound like a jet engine taking off, until they were in position again.

Within 300 meters, the towers and blades were incredibly imposing. Not something you would want to be around, or see. Looking up and watching the blades spin, hearing all the noise, was frightening. In winter ice throw anywhere within range of these units would be a huge concern. Dwayne had told us that the fire department was warned that in winter if they were required, they were to be very careful where they parked.

We went 1 km downwind and the loud rhythmic sounds could be heard from various turbines at different speeds, again, all out of sync with each other. A curiosity for a few minutes, but you could never live with this noise.

The wind picked up to about 18-20 knots and when downwind 700 meters to 1.5 km away, standing outside, you could not hear the noise. However, inside our car with the window down and out of the turbulence of the outside air the sounds returned.

Wind turbine setback bylaws for Cumberland County are clearly inadequate for protection of the rights of residents who will be living adjacent to wind turbines. They desperately need to be re-examined and amended.

Paul and Ruth DowningNOISE report from K.R., AUSTRALIA – received 11 June 2008

Just thought I'd  do a quick report on the trip we made to Toora this weekend. In brief:
We found shadow  flicker up to 2.5km away in the main street (contrary to the applicants  "conservative" view of 1km)

    *     Didn't hear them Sun night. Got up early (6.30am Monday morning) and went for a drive up to the  viewing area. Blades were feathered into stop position. As I drove, I saw the blades turn and commence spin. Got to the viewing area (site office also adjacent) and Vesta maintenance crew was there. Asked them why the turbines had stopped and they said that there had been a power outage from the grid over night... no power, these things automatically shut down and stay shut down until maintenance crews restart them... same if they cause instability to the grid - they automatically shut down. The technician also went on to say that these turbines need power from the grid feeding back into them 100% of the time (needed for cooling, electronic configuration & communication and to start a spin and keep them in a light spin when insufficient wind).  So if ever there is a power black out for whatever reason (say coal plant problems for example)... wind power will not ever be able to continue producing electricity back into the grid... also these turbines are not self-sufficient!
 
    *     Spoke with a dairy farmer who is still battling the noise issue with the Company. He has recently had  more noise detecting equipment placed at his house both inside and out. The decibel readings when the noise is bad read louder inside his house than what they do outside at the same time, and even louder still if the window is closed rather than if it is open. The noise  is amplified inside via reflection off walls. There was much more from this discussion, but this farmer is in the process of more legal proceedings and I don't want to jeopardise his  efforts.
 
    *     Spoke to a number of people in the local bar on Saturday night. The majority of people (who did not live within 3km and didn't know any of the residents directly involved) didn't have an issue with the wind farm. Was amusing to hear them brag that their turbines  are the biggest and you won't find any bigger (Mt Pollock = 130m, Denmark =  200m (max), Toora = 100m). When they understood that we were there to find out about the noise and health issues suffered by those people living close by, about 50% of those who originally seemed to be supporters, had stories to  tell. Attached is a story that one such person wrote at the time the development was being fought...have a read!
 
    *     Was given copies of a number of  newspaper articles from papers in Gippsland, one thing mentioned from the  supporters point of view (Auswind Chief Executive - remembering that editors  have to present a balanced view) was that there was no evidence to support  health loss or property devaluation... I had a number of people approach me to tell me why there was no evidence...because those people with the evidence were paid settlements and signed confidentiality agreements to silence their  information. The reason why these people did this was because they were  suffering large financial loss and/or specific health issues and they  weren't being heard through gov't or any of the normal channels for community  concern (especially being one of the first wind farm developments in the state). They either had to accept the payment and its terms and move, or  continue to suffer financial loss and loss of health with no light at the  end of the tunnel. The dairy farmer I mentioned above can not move...the dairy  is his livelihood. The land has been in his family for generations. It is all  that he knows how to do. His elderly parents live in a house next door. He  cannot just sell and move into town. No amount of double glazing can  solve his problems either. He is still battling to be heard. He has not signed  any confidentiality agreements. He wants the company to recognise the noise effects on him and his livelihood and his ability to produce milk/food  for his community (more important to the community than electricity production). He wants to stay and he wants the company to turn off the turbines that effect him on the nights when the prevailing weather  conditions are in play (11 - 15 nights per month) - sounds reasonable, no luck so far.

    *     One family who eventually  received payment and signed a confidentiality agreement for loss of property  values travelled to NZ (expenses paid) prior to being  offered the agreement to talk to a group of residents near  Wellington who were trying to fight a wind farm development near them. He had  proof of property devaluation (rates notices over a number of years) plus his  property which was on the market for 18mths eventually sold to a woman with no  hearing in the low frequency range for 40% below ordinary market value. This information  is now silenced due to the existence of the agreement that was signed.

    *     There were 2 specific cases of Meniere's Disease which is inner ear balance related plus one diagnosed with  Chronic Bilateral Tinnitus specifically due to the wind turbine noise. Other  less specific hearing loss cases were also identified. All of these cases now have confidentiality clauses silencing further  discussion.
 
    *     Had coffee with a Councilor from Sth Gippsland Shire council who was Mayor at the time Toora was proposed and was one of the few who  identified the issues early and tried to stop it. Without any luck. He has  pledged his support in our battles. We just need to get our councilors to  talk to him. Easier said than done. I have specifically asked our councilors  to contact him and have provided them with his details,  but none have made contact yet. Will continue to push it, but if you  have any opportunity to request councilors do the same, then please do so.
 
    *     The underlying message here is yes,  most of the people effected at Toora received some form of compensation for  their losses, but they had to suffer a great deal to achieve this and most are  still suffering. These mistakes have been made before, this type of suffering  should not still be happening and there are safe guards that can be put in place to prevent such occurrences.

A  residential buffer up to 3km for example, greater community awareness and  noise conditions attached to permits which stipulate shut down of turbines  during the night when prevailing weather/atmospheric conditions cause sound  modulation at residences. This will force developers to undertake noise  studies and turbine placement with more diligence – if noise modulation isn’t a problem then they should have no concern with this condition.