Catastrophic Turbine Failure At Vermont Wind Farm Raises Doubt

Turbine #10 at the Searsburg wind energy facility in Searsburg, Vermont experienced a catastrophic failure when one of the blades came in contact with the turbine's tower causing it to buckle during high winds. This turbine's 28-ton nacelle and 3-blade rotor assembly crashed to the ground scattering debris several hundred feet from the structure. Approximately 20-gallons of heavy oil spilled from the unit when its fluid reservoirs were damaged. The 11-turbine Searsburg facility was brought online in 1997 and according to preconstruction documents, the Zond Z-P40-FS turbines had an expected lifespan of 30-years[1].

Industrial Wind Action (IWA) Group's executive director, Lisa Linowes, was not surprised by the failure. "The Searsburg towers are located at an elevation of nearly 3000-feet in some of the harshest weather conditions in New England. Performance issues and blade failures have plagued this project for some time, " she said pointing to incidences in May 2006[2] and again in May 2008[3].

While the eleven-year old Searsburg turbines are failing, newer models have not improved the safety record. "Wind developers today tout life expectancies of industrial wind turbines that exceed 20 years," Linowes said, "but the fact remains that estimates of the functional lifespan of modern utility-scale wind turbines are speculative and cannot be substantiated since so far very few have been operating for ten years."

Unfortunately, unless a person or property is damaged in a turbine failure, there is no obligation for the owner of an industrial wind turbine to report the incident. Information on the number and types of failures is sparse and poorly reported, and thus this vital data is not adequately incorporated into estimates of turbine longevity. The Searsburg failure occurred on September 15th.

"What's more ominous," Linowes said, "is that reports of turbine failures in the United States are increasing. These failures include blade throws, oil leaks, fires, and collapse." IWA attributes the increase in reporting to the fact that the machines are more visible, being erected close to where people live, and also due to the growing interest in wind energy development. In the last year alone, IWA has tracked catastrophic failures in Idaho, Minnesota, California, New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, raising concerns about public safety.

While weather conditions and climate are taking a toll on the machines, reports from the industry indicate the rush to erect industrial wind turbines is being accomplished at the expense of quality assurance and safe installation practices. Business Week published a report[4] in August 2007, which found, "The facilities may not be as reliable and durable as producers claim. Indeed, with thousands of mishaps, breakdowns and accidents having been reported in recent years, the difficulties seem to be mounting." A report this year found that turbine owners were not conducting regularly scheduled maintenance necessary to ensure the mechanical towers remain in good operating condition. An informal survey of approximately seventy-five wind farm operators in the United States found as many as sixty-percent were behind in their maintenance procedures[5].

"Public safety should be paramount when siting industrial wind turbines," Linowes said, adding "there's a perception that the 400-foot structures can safely be erected merely a few hundred feet from property lines, public areas and rights-of-way." She pointed to a private high school in Massachusetts[6] as an example where a massive turbine was installed just feet from the school's driveway. Barrington, Rhode Island is deliberating on the location of an even larger turbine that will stand within 200-feet of the public high school building[7], although that turbine might be relocated in response to parents and residents raising concerns over noise and safety. In both cases, the turbines exceed the size of the destroyed Searsburg tower.

Manufacturers recommend a safety zone with a radius of at least 1300 feet from a wind turbine, and that children be prohibited from standing or playing near the structures[8]. "Green energy should not override common sense," Linowes said.

NOTE FROM THE BPRC RESEARCH NERD: There is no video footage of this collapse, but footage of a similar collapse last winter can be seen by clicking on the image below. The the video shows the same thing happening when the blade of the turbine struck the tower. Notice how far pieces of the turbine fly in this video. Notice the extreme impact when the nacelle hits the ground. Then click here to contact your legislators and tell them you want safer setbacks than the 1000 feet recommended in the state's draft model wind ordinance. For those living in Wisconsin townships which have adopted an ordinance with a safer setback, now might be a good time to send your local government a word of thanks. If your township has no ordinance, this is a good time to ask your local government to get working on one.

[1] Green Mountain Power wind power project development, http://www.windaction.org/?module=uploads&func=download&fileId=79

[2] http://www.windaction.org/pictures/2185

[3] http://www.windaction.org/pictures/15942

[4] The dangers of wind power, http://www.windaction.org/news/11519

[5] Maintaining the wind turbine revolution, http://www.windaction.org/news/17512

[6] School's wind turbine rises 262 feet, http://www.windaction.org/news/18175

[7] Barrington school committee delays vote on wind turbine, http://www.windaction.org/news/18228

[8] Vestas mechanical operating and maintenance manual V90-3.0MW turbine

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About IWA: Industrial Wind Action Group seeks to promote knowledge and raise awareness of the risks and damaging environmental impacts of industrial wind energy development. Information and analysis on the subject is available through its website, www.windaction.org. To subscribe to the IWA weekly newsletter, visit http://www.windaction.org/subscribe.

Wonder what happens to the farmers who have leased their land to wind developers whose financial situation tanks suddenly? Wonder what happens to their land when half-done construction comes to a halt?  What if they've already poured the platform of more than a thousand tons of concrete and steel rebar, 30 to 50 feet across and anywhere from 6 to 30 feet deep? What if they've already torn up the field for the cable trenches and the access roads?

Most contracts allow the developer to sell the lease to a farmers land to anyone who is willing to buy it. Most contracts allow the developer to break-off the contract with the farmer with little notice, requirements or compensation.

What happens to the land then if the township has not adopted an ordinance which has a decommissioning plan in place for an event like this? Farmers around the country are about to find out:

NOBLE DEFLATED

We thank WindAction.org for this article. (click here to visit their website)

Citing credit woes, Noble Environmental Power LLC of Essex Connecticut announced last week that all work was suspended at its 14-turbine wind farm under construction in Bellmont, New York. The turbine foundations have already been laid at the site and Noble indicated work would not resume until summer 2009. Contractors for Noble have informed Windaction.org that, while the announcement was sudden, there were indications the firm was experiencing cash flow problems months ago.

Earlier this year, Noble filed plans to raise $375 million in an initial public offering (IPO). The share sale was to be underwritten by now bankrupt Lehman Brothers. Public reports of the IPO stated the company showed no revenue on its income statement and was nearly $1 billion in debt. The company has 282 megawatts in operating wind power projects in the U.S.

Noble Environmental, along with First Wind (formerly UPC Wind), is under investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for alleged improper dealings with public officials and anti-competitive practices. It is reported the company's credit woes partially stem from reluctance of financiers to invest in a company under investigation.

Noble’s problems are not just legal and financial, they're also technical. The company is experiencing problems with its Clinton and Ellenburg wind parks erected in Clinton County NY and online earlier this year. None of the 121 turbines have been operational for the last two weeks. The root cause of the shutdown has not been announced.

In these troubling economic times, Windaction.org strongly encourages communities and landowners involved with wind farm development to look out for themselves by ensuring decommissioning plans are filed prior to commencement of any construction. Such plans should be backed with bonds sufficient to cover the costs of restoring a site to its original condition and the full removal of scrap materials. Note, given dramatic fluctuations in scrap value and hauling costs, decommissioning plans should never allow the value of the scrap to be deducted from the projected turbine dismantling costs.

NOTE FROM THE BPRC RESEARCH NERD: All of the five Wisconsin townships which have adopted wind ordinances provide decommissioning requirements for just this situation. Download these ordinances by clicking here. Plan to bring up this issue  at your next town meeting. And contact us for any questions you may have about this issue by clicking here.

While wind developers continue to downplay the trouble with noise from industrial scale wind turbines, the truth keeps making its way to the public. Watch ABC's Charles Gibson with microphone recording the noise from a wind turbine by clicking here (Warning! There may be an ad you have to suffer through to watch this.)

We believe this is one of the first times the actual sound of an industrial-scale wind turbine has been presented to the public. Mr. Gibson calls it "the sound of the future" -- but for people who are living 1100 feet  (350 steps) from wind turbines of this size in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties here in Wisconsin, it's not the sound of the future. It's the sound of sleepless nights, headaches, and miserable days, right now. Today. Tonight.

And click here to watch a CNBC news segment on people who had to move out of their homes because of turbine noise and other unexpected health-effects of living too close to such immense industrial machines.

Below is what September sounded like to a Fond du Lac family living inside of an 86 turbine wind farm which went on line in March of 2008.

(You can download the entire diary by clicking here)

September 1

-  5:15 AM Wind S calm, 18.6 rpms, dba 44.4, dbc 59.3. Loud jet sound from turbines 4 and 73.
-8:45 AM Wind S 7 knots, 16 rpms. Loud jet sound from turbines 4 and 73. To equalize the sound I walked north to 1360’ from turbine 4 and 2680’ from turbine 73. Very annoying. Oh, this is more than ½ a mile from turbine 73.
-1:55 PM Wind S, 5 knots gusts to 14 knots, 13.3 rpms. All day there has been a loud jet sound like there is fighting between turbine 4 and 73 as to who can be the loudest. My stomach feels full and nauseated, tired of being out  listening all day. I have lived here 37 years and never imagined we would he to live with these health and welfare effects.
-9:25 PM Wind SE, 18.3 rpms. Turbine 4 dba 49.1, dbc 64.3, turbine 73 dba 47.9 dbc 64.9. This whole day has been loud mostly between turbines 73 and 4. At this  time also 74a and others to the south are loud. I have been sick to my stomach feeling most of the day. I was just in the bathroom and I can hear turbines from there. Our bathroom has no outside wall. As I write this in the computer room I hear turbine sounds, but am not sure if from the north (4) or south (73,74a + others). It has been a very bad day.
-10:55 PM Wind SE 4  knots dba 51.6, dbc 69.5 from the sidewalk 20’ from our house or 1585’ from turbine 4.

September 2 –

-6:15 AM Wind calm 18.3 rpms. Almost as loud as last night. I can hear turbines 4 and 73 and 6. It looks like another bad day in store.
-11:45 PM Wind NW, 5 knots, dba 51.1, dbc 60.6. We just got home from the Idols concert in Green Bay with my wife’s sister. She had not heard the turbines before. She said, “My goodness. It sounds like a jet taking off”. Turbines 4 and 6 are very loud and ripping the sky apart. Terribly loud jet sound. I can hear turbines in the house. 

September 3 –

-5:15 AM Wind NW 18.6 rpms.  Jet sound from turbines 73 and 4.
-12:35 PM Wind N,  11 rpms, 8 knots. Humming and whooshing sound #4.
-8:10 PM Wind NE 13.3 rpms. Low jet flying over sound.
-12:20 AM Wind NE. Louder sound than before.

September 4

– 6:40 AM Rain, Wind NE 15 rpms. Turbine 73 is louder than turbine 4. Turbine 73 is 2480’ away from the house.
-  9:25 PM Wind N, light rain, strong wind. Outside I can hear the jet sound over the wind. Inside in the computer room I can hear turbines.
---10:55 PM Wind N, 11 Knots. I hear turbines inside the house☹
   -12:10 AM Wind N, dba 51.2, dbc 73.4. There is a  Jet sound. I can hear turbine 4 in the house with the door closed.

September 5

– 7:35 AM Wind NW calm, low clouds 400’, 13.6 rpms. I can hear jet sound from turbine 4.
---1:10 PM Wind NW, 11.3 rpms. Sound not too bad.
  --4:25 PM Wind NW, 11 rpms, dba 43, Dbc 54.3. Humming and whooshing sound. This afternoon many of the turbines were not turning.
---11:25 PM Wind W, 11.3 rpms, humming and whooshing sound. 

September 6

– 7:10 AM Wind W, 4 knots, 11 rpms. Humming sound.
--2:00 PM Wind W, 16.6 rpms.Turbine loud humming and whooshing. Turbine 6 loud jet sound. 5:20 PM Wind W, calm, 11
    rpms. Humming and grinding sound.
--7:40 PM Wind SW, calm, 11 rpms. Humming sound.
    10:05 PM Wind W, calm, 11 rpms. Turbine 4 humming and can hear turbine 6 as well.

September 7

--6:15 AM Wind W, 11 rpms. Whoosh, whoosh sound.
----5:25 PM Wind SW 9 knots, 18 rpms, turbine 4-50.4 dba, 68.7 dbc. All day or from noon turbine 4 was loud jet flying over sound during our family reunion picnic outdoors. Many commented about the loud sound.
----8:00 PM Wind NW calm, light rain, 13.6 rpms. Jet sound and whoosh sound from turbine 4. Jet sound from turbine 75a, ¾ mile away☹
    -11:45 PM I hear the humming of #4 while in the  dining room and from my computer I hear turbine 73. The day has been bad and it just continues on even with the wind calm.

September 8

– 5:15 AM Wind NW, slow. Humming sound. 9:55 AM Wind NW 3 knots, 7.3 rpms.  Pretty slow. Looks like an attempt to show they are working. Wind W. All turbines are shutting down.
    --11:30 PM Wind W, calm, dba 42.7, dbc 60.3. Turbine 6 is louder than turbine 4 jet  sound. Turbine 6 is ¾ mile away.

September 9

– Wind calm, 0 rpms. All 86 turbines are still. What wonderful peace!
    3:45 PM Wind SW 5 knots variable. No turbines turning, but our ice cream is OK. The gas, nuclear and coal
    Generators must be working.
    9:50 PM Wind SE, 3 knots, dba 45.3, dbc 60.3. Low jet sound.

September 10

– 5:15 AM Wind S, calm, 11 rpms. Humming sound.
    7:20 AM Wind S, 3 knots, 11 rpms. Humming sound.
    8:25 AM Wind SW, calm, 11 rpms. Only 25% of the industrial, noisy turbines are turning.
    5:35 PM Wind SE, 8 knots, 15 rpms. Fairly loud whoosh and hum sound
    for a SE wind.
    9:30 PM Wind SW, 5 knots, 18 rpms, sound at house dba 49.4, dbc 61.3, sound at back of property dba 45.3, dbc 64.2, front of house dba 44.5, dbc 60.9. Our son has been down from his room twice complaining of the turbine sound from his room. The sound is close to the Chinook [helicopter] sound between turbines 4 and 73. I have had a crackling sound in my left ear for about 10 days.
    11:10 PM Wind SE, dba 48.2, dbc 71.3. Loud jet sound from turbines 4 & 6.

September 11

– 6:25 AM Wind SE. 3 knots, 18.3 rpms. Very loud jet flying over sound filling the air  rom the South, West and North. Yesterday I had slight headache most of the day. I was  working outside most of the day. I rarely get headaches. This morning when I woke up I thought about the buzzing or crackling in my ear for the past week. Is it from the constant turbine noise? I also am concerned about being tired most of the time and not having much ambition. I could take a nap at any time and often do. I see customers that were on my mail route just 6 weeks ago and can not remember their names. This is not just occasionally, but everyday and with people I know. I wonder if I am getting Alzheimer’s disease early or is it turbine sound related? I am 59.
    3:15 PM. Wind SE. I just got home from Madison. Turbine 4& 6 and 73 are giving off loud, ripping the sky apart [noise] even over the rain. About 14 of the turbines  on the West edge of the project are not turning.
    9:50 PM Wind SSW, 9 knots, cloudy, humid. Turbines 4, 73 and 6 are filling the air with ripping, loud jet sound. I can hear turbines at my Computer which is in my house 1560’ – 2480’ from the large industrial wind turbines. At house dba 50.2, dbc 65.8, back dba 52.3, dbc 62.3, front dba 47.1, dbc 65.5.

September 12 –

--6:55 AM Wind SW calm, 11 rpms. Low humming sound.
    7:00 PM Wind calm, no Turning.
    11:40 PM Low hum

September 13 –

   --7:10 AM Wind E, foggy and drizzling, 14.6 rpms. Sound is covered by the rain and
    wind.  
    --8:30 PM We just got home from a day trip to our cabin and as soon as I got out of the
    truck I can hear turbines 4 and 73 ripping the sky apart as loud as a Chinook helicopter.
    11:30 PM Wind W. Only hear the jet sound from turbine 4

September 14 –

    Wind N, 8 knots, 11 rpms. I can hear the sound over light rain. I noticed a crackling
    in my left ear last night and this morning.
    8:25 AM Wind NNW, dba 49.3, dbc 63.8 with a loud jet sound. I can hear turbine 4 at my computer. 12:20 PM 14 rpms. Loud jet sound.
    7:15 PM Wind NW 5 knots, 14 rpms, dba 44.0, dbc 61.3. Loud jet sound, but not as loud as all  afternoon up until 30 minutes ago. It was a tense day working in the barn shop and picking berries and apples with the obnoxious sound…sickening sound.
    10:35 PM Wind NW, light rain, 9 knots. Very loud jet sound ripping through the sky. 10:10 PM Wind NW. I can hear turbines
    4 and 6 loud jet sound. I can hear turbine 4 in the house. I have a crackling in my left ear.

September 15

    5:15 AM Wind NW, 10 knots, 14.3 rpms, dba 45.7, dbc 63.5 Fairly loud jet sound from
    turbine 4.. and I can also hear turbine 6.
    1:20 PM. Wind NW, 6 knots, cloudy, 11 rpms. Low  hum.
    4:00 PM Most turbines are not turning. It is so peaceful picking the raspberries and being able to hear the bees buzzing with out the sounds of the industrial wind turbines.

    September 16 –

    6:20 AM Wind SW, 4 knots, feels calm, 14.6 rpms, dba 44.6, dbc 61.4. Loud motor running or humming sound. I’m hearing turbine 4 in the barn shop and at the computer at 7:05
    11:15 AM Wind SW loud, dba 47.1, dbc 64.7.
    4:15 PM Wind SW, 11 knots, dba 47.3, dbc 67.2, 18 rpms. Turbine 4 and 6 are making loud jet flying over sounds, ripping the sky apart. It has been loud all day.
    9:40 PM Wind SW 11 knots, house dba 50.1, dbc 65.6, back dba 51,  dbc 66.5, front dba 50.7, dbc 66.5, 18 rpms.This is the loudest night in a long time. I hear #4, 6, 73, 74a, 3a and and possibly more. I can hear them at the computer in the front of the house  and in the family room in the back of the house with the TV on. Keep in mind turbine 6 is ¾
    mile, # 73 is 2480’ and 74a 5/8 mile away. It is very sad our town officials and PSC have allowed this turbine project to affect the health of residents in this area and it will continue in other areas.
    11:40 PM I hear turbine jet flying over sound while watching TV in our family room☹

September 17 –

    4:30 AM Wind SW, 5 knots, dba 47.4, dbc 62.3. Jet sound from turbine 4 and 6. Last  night I slept very little due to the constant sound in the house. This is the worst since they began turning on March 3, 2008. I could hear a low like whoosh sound or at times the house seemed to be vibrating. I am getting more angry at elected officials for allowing this to happen
 and that something (turbines) that are 28-30% efficient are even promoted. This is an unjust  use of our tax dollars. I hear turbine sounds as I write this at the computer.
    5:05 PM Wind N, 1 rpms. Fairly calm. Not much noise compared to yesterday.
    10:30 PM Wind N. Noise Is Covered by sweet corn harvesting machinery at the neighbors.

September 18 –

    6:35 AM Wind E, 11.3 rpms. Low hum sound.
    10:35 PM Wind SE, dba 46.0 dbc  66.9. Jet sound. Louder than during the day

September 19 –

    6:45 AM Wind S, 5 knots, 18 rpms, house dba 51.3, dbc 69.9, front dba 49.9, dbc 65.4. The sound outside is loud. The environmental impact statement for this project and Invenergy company officials say with the new technology you only hear the sound from oneside of the turbine. This is not true. I hear turbine 4, 1560’ to the north and turbine 73, 2480’ to
the south both ripping the sky apart this morning. I hear turbine noise as I write this at the computer. Yes, in the house, Very irritating.
    7:50 PM Wind SW, 18 rpms, dba 49.0, dbc 62.1.It has been loud all day. I’m sure there will be sleep problems tonight.            11:45 PM Wind SW, 9 knots. I can hear turbines 4 and 73 loudest and 74a and 6. I was watching TV and when there
    was no talking I could hear the whoosh, whoosh of the turbines☹ Our son was down complaining and with a recording he had made of the sounds of the turbines he can hear from his room.
It is 11:55 PM and I can still hear him awake. I can hear the turbines at the computer.

September 20 –

    7:20 AM Wind SW, 8 knots, but seems calm, 15 rpms, dba 44.1, dbc 60.6, clear sky.The sound is fairly quiet other than whooshing and humming of the turbines (this is not the pleasant sound like someone humming to music).
    7;35 PM Wind SW, 9 knots, seems calm, 11.6 rpms. I can hear the sound of turbine 4 but no sound reading as the farmer 300 yards down the hill began corn chopping and silo filling so sound reading. It would not be fair to take a sound reading with tractors and choppers running so close by.
    8:20 PM Wind SW, calm, 11 rpms, low hum.

September 21 –

Wind NE, 4 knots, 11 rpms. Little sound today. The last 2 days I have had a lot of  crackling in my left ear. This morning I woke with the sound. It is like taking wax paper and crunching it next to the ear, but this is inside the ear.
    7:10 PM Wind E, 11 knots, 14.3 rpms, cloudy. Not too much noise due to wind in the trees. 11:10 PM Wind SE, 3 knots, cloudy, mist. dba 45.5, dbc 67.3. Jet sound. Much of today most turbines were not turning. Now the loud sound has returned.

September 22

– 5:15 AM Cloudy, foggy. Low hum. Afternoon-Working on the new porch was a tense afternoon. I could hear turbine 4 over the sound of a 4 row self propelled corn chopper and accompanying equipment. The chopper was between our house and the turbine.
   -7:30 PM Wind SE, 16.6 rpms. I can hear the turbines over the wind. There has been more sound the last few days or week and that has brought on more crackling in my left ear. While working on the porch 5  minutes after turbine 73 got louder my wife had a headache. 

September 23

– 6:45 AM Wind SE, light, 16.6 rpms. 8:10 AM My wife was trying to read at the dining room table and thought she heard a train, but it was the turbine sound instead. I woke up with the crackling in my ear. It has been pretty much constant the last 3 days. My wife also told me about a quivering she has in her chest, especially at night in bed. She had thought it  had something to do with her heitial hernia, but after reading some of Nina Pierponts writing I realized it is probably from the constant turbine sounds.
2:00 PM Wind S, 14 rpms. Turbine 4 has been shut down today. Maintenance trucks are at the base. Today I can hear turbine 3a because turbine 4 is not over powering it. I also hear turbines 73 and 74a.
10:55 PM Wind SSE 8 knots, 18 rpms, dba 48.0, dbc 61.4. Jet sound heard from turbines 4 and 73. Quite loud with
turbine 6 not quite as loud

September 24

– 5:15 AM Wind SW, 3 knots, 15 rpms, partly cloudy, dba 46.6, dbc 61.4. The sound is that of a jet flying over. 9:30 AM Wind SW, 3 knots, 11.6 rpms. There is the humming sound.
    10:25 PM Wind N, calm, 11 rpms with humming sound. I had crackling in my left ear much of  the day.

September 25 –

    5:20 AM Wind NE, calm, 11 rpms. Low Hum. 3:35 PM Calm. No turbines turning.
    1:20 AM Wind E calm, dba 45.3, dbc 60.3. Loud whoosh from turbine 4 & loud sound from 73.

September 26 – 7:05 AM Wind S, Calm, 14.3 rpms, dba 43.2, dbc 59.6. Humming sound. 1:50 PM Wind S, calm,  18 rpms, dba 46.2, dbc 59.1. Low jet flying over sound. I can hear turbines 4  and 6. Left ear crackle.

September 27

– Wind SW, calm, 11 rpms. Low hum. I woke up with left ear crackling.
8:55 AM Wind SW, light, turbine 4 14 rpms, turbine 3a 11 rpms. Turbine 4 is getting loud.
8:55 PM Wiind N 8 knots, 14 rpms. Turbine 4 and 6 are quite loud with #6 louder tonight. Turbine 6 is ¾ mi away

September 28

    S– 7:10 AM Wind NE, light breeze. Difference between dba and dbc is 20. That may Explain why my wife was awake for 2 hours over night.
    5:30 PM. 12.3 rpms. The turbines were off for a while. Ten rpms for a while. I was to our cabin today. It was so nice and peaceful☺ No annoying turbine sounds to pollute the air. I could hear birds and the rustling of the leaves. It
    was very peaceful and relaxing.

September 29

– 5:15 AM Wind calm. Turbines not turning. 9:00 PM Wind NW, 4 knots. Turbines not turning. Coudy.
    6:30 PM wind NW, calm, 11 rpms. Low hum but audible at the house.
    10:55 PM Wind W, calm. Turbines turning slow and fairly quiet. I can hear turbines 4 and 6.
    12:15AM Wind NW, 6 knots, 16 rpms, dba 45.6, dbc 60.8. I could hear turbine 4 while watching TV so I
    went outside to make sure it was the turbine. Turbine 4 and 6 are very loud whoosh. Turbine 6
    is ¾ of a mile away. We probably hear both tonight watching TV from our family room.

September 30 –

6;30 AM Wind NW, 7 knots, 13.6 rpms, cloudy, dba 43.9, dbc 59.3. I hear turbine 4
 loud and turbine 6 a little less.
5:10 PM. No facts other than wind from NW and it has been loud all day. I am tense and have crackling in my left ear. That is now every day even if I do not mention it.
10:05 PM Wind W, 17.3 rpms, dba 47.0, dbc 66.8. Turbines 4 and 6 loud, ripping the sky apart sound and jet flying over sound. Very bad. Our son saw the speed and said, “It will be a bad night”.  He was correct. He did not sleep at all this night.
 
   
   

Here is the August diary from the Meyer family who live inside of an 86 turbine industrial wind farm in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties, here in Wisconsin. The turbines went on line during the first week of March of 2008.

Though August is one of our hottest months and a time when people use a lot of electricity for cooling their homes, August is a month when this wind farm seems to be at its most inactive. Read about the seven days when few or none of the turbines were turning at all.

The wind is unreliable, but we know the sun will come up each day. On-site solar, manure digesters, and biomass are much better renewable choices for Wisconsin, which only has class 2 wind-power over most of the state. Class 4 wind power is considered to be the minimum for electrical generation from wind turbines. So why put turbines where there is little wind?

Our tax dollars are the reason. Wind developers sell us an inefficient, destructive, and unreliable means of generating electricity in exchange for our tax dollars. Even if there isn't enough wind to generate reliable electricity in our state, wind developers have found their reliable money generator.

Because wind turbines rely on fossil-fuel burning power plants in order to function, because they draw a lot of electricity to be able to power up, power down, and heat or cool engine elements, and because those fossil-fuel burning power plants don't power down or up to compensate for the wind's fluctuation but keep right on burning fossil fuel, there are more and more questions being raised about the ability of wind energy to reduce CO2 emissions. There are a lot of questions about how "green" industrial scale wind turbines really are. There are serious concerns about the impact of turbines on wild life. And of course there are the documented health concerns of those living with turbines sited much to close to their homes. For reasons of health and safety, recent studies suggest turbines should be sited no closer than 1.5 miles from a residence.

So when it comes to industrial wind farms in Wisconsin, as far as we can tell, wind developers may be the only winners.

READ MORE: New York Times: Wind Power May not Lower Pollution, Study Suggests

BROWNSVILLE WIND TURBINE NOISE LOG AUG 6-AUG 31, 2008

(Download entire diary by clicking here)

August 6 2008
        5:10 AM  Wind NW fairly quiet. Turbines turning slow.
      11:50 AM Turbines turning slow with low volume hum.
        4:45 PM Wind W slight. Turbine #4 annoying jet sounds.
      10:35 PM Getting out of the car in the garage I can hear turbines making the loud jet flying over sound. Wind is from the    West. I hear #6 louder than #4. Turbine 6 is ¾ of a mile from the house.

August 7 –
         6:50 AM Almost no wind. Turbine 4 humming and whooshing away. This is annoying and aggravating and turbine 4 is 1560’ away, more than 1.5 times the state’s model. Also remember I have pine trees and the neighbor’s woods to suppress the sounds. What is it like for those with few or no trees 1000’ away or those who signed off and are about 600’ away? Oh yes, they have complained to me too.
        6:10 PM wind NW slow and pretty quiet.
        9:00 PM Wind NE 11rpms

August 8 –
    7:10 AM Wind N calm. About ½ of the 86 turbines turning slow. Turbine 4 turning slow but Quiet. I think that means lots of dark homes.
    8:40 AM All 86 turbines are still. Wow! What peace plus I can hear the beautiful songs of the birds ☺ When the turbines are turning, especially when loud I don’t hear the birds, however when the turbines are still or quiet I hear them.
   5:10 PM Turning slow.
  10:40 PM Turbine 4 barely turning.

August 9 –
    6:45 AM Turning slow @ 11 rpms.
    8:50 AM Most turbines stopped.
    10:30 AM Turning slow.
    3:45 PM Wind NW 11rpms and fairly quiet.
    4:45 PM A friend with a sound meter 45dba 65dbc or 20 difference where 15 is “acceptable”. This means low vibration sound is affecting my family and explains why my wife and 13 year old son are not sleeping well.
    10:30 PM Slow and quiet.

August 10 –
     6:20 AM Wind N 5knts. I have been calling the Fond du Lac airport for wind speed. The
    airport is 7 miles north of the house so is just an indication of the wind speed and is knots
    rather than miles per hour. Turbine 4 is turning at 12.6 rpms. I can hear the whoosh, whoosh,
    whoosh sound.
    11:30 AM Wind N and the sound is louder than earlier. I can hear #4 from the
    kitchen with the door open.
     4:25 PM Wind N a short while ago. I could hear #4 while making
    pizza. Turning 12.6 rpms.
    11:20 PM Wind calm turning slow and quietly.

August 11 –
     5:15 AM Wind calm. All or most turbines not turning.
    10:45 AM Wind NE Maybe ½ the turbines are turning quietly.
    5:30 PM Turbines not turning. Wind calm.
    11:10 PM Wind S calm @ 13.2 rpms. Little noise.

August 12 –
    Wind SW Calm 10.6rpms. I hear the hum of #4.
    8:00AM My wife has been staying with her father the last 4 nights comforting him in the last days of his life. Last night she was home and just told me that in town she did not have ringing in her ears, but last night it returned☹  Yes I believe it is related to the industrial wind turbines located 1560’, 1840’ and ¾ mile from our house especially since I now know the C weighted sound is more than 15.
11:05 AM calm. ALL turbines still. At first I thought the last few weeks are fairly quiet or not much sound to report, however now I realize in the summer there is very little wind, therefore very little wind generated electricity. In the winter when there is wind there is less demand for electricity and again no need for wind generated power. From what I understand the sound will be worse (how can it be worse or more annoying and unhealthy) in winter because there will be no leaves plus snow on the ground will enhance the loud turbine generated sounds and vibrations.
    12:40 PM All turbines silent (not turning). 
    10:30 PM Wind calm 11rpms fairly quiet.

August 13 –
    5:10 AM  Calm. Turbines not turning.
    12:20 PM Most turbines not turning.
    1:10 PM Turbine 4, 10.6 rpms.
    11:30 PM Wind calm. Almost full moon. Coming home from the Dodge County fair no turbines moving.

August 14 –
     8:40 AM Wind NE calm @ 11rpms. Slow and quiet.
    11:30 PM Wind NE turning 14.3 rpm Some sound but not loud.
 
August 15 –
    6:50 AM Wind NE at 6 knots, 13 rpms. Low noise volume.
    9:00 AM Many of the turbines are stopped so no sound…..or electricity.
    9:55 PM No wind or 0 rpms (not turning). We drove through the turbine farm with the full moon and did not see ANY turning.

August 16 –
    6:15 AM Turning slow and quiet.
    2:30 PM. I can hear hum of turbine 4 and jet sound of Turbine 6.
    11:30 PM  Loud jet sound from turbine 4 and loud ripping jet sound from turbine 6. Wind is SW 15.3 rpms. This is the loudest sound in a few days.

August 17 –
    6:50 AM Wind W-SW calm. 11 rpms. Humming or rubbing sound.
     9:35 AM Wind SW    calm. 6knots @ the airport. 11 rpms. Turning very slow with little sound. 1:40 PM Wind W 9 knots 13.3 rpms. I hear loud jet sound from turbine 73. Turbine 4 is not     quite as loud. Turbine 73 is 2480’ away from my house.
    10:05 PM Wind SW 15.6 rpms Tonight the air is filled with turbine sounds. Turbine 4 jet flying over sound, #’s 6 and 73 can also be heard.
    11:05 PM I can hear turbines from my computer, yes inside the house. Turbine 4 sound like a jet ready to take off☹

August 18 –
    6:25 AM Wind SW. Turbine 4 jet sound. Turbine 6 louder with ripping of the air sound.
    8:30 AM Wind SW 12.6 rpms.
    10:30 PM Wind E. Not much sound. Turbine 73 has now taken the place of the loudest turbine.The air seems to be filled with sound from all around. In the house there is sound, but like outside it seems all over or which turbine is making the sound I’m not sure.

August 19 –
    6:30 AM Wind NE 5 knots. 11 rpms. It is quiet this morning. Turning slow.
    9:50 AM Wind NE 11 rpms. Quiet.
     3:45 PM Wind E calm 11rpms. Humming sound from turbine 4. 
    5:50 PM Wind E, 5 knots, 11 rpms. Slow and fairly quiet.

August 20 –
     5:10 AM Wind SE 8 knots, 18.3 rpms. Low jet sound.
    8:20 AM Wind E 8 knots, 11 rpms Not much noise.
    3:20 PM Wind E. the sound is picking up or getting louder.
    9:30 PM wind SE15 rpms. Jet sound.
    11:20 PM Wind SE jet sound from turbines 4 & 6. I just received a new Extech sound meter and shows 46.5dba.

August 21 –
    6:55 AM Wind SE @ 3 knots. 14.5 rpms with humming sound.
    11:20 PM Wind SE The  sounds are getting louder tonight. I can hear turbines 4 & 6 to the north like a jet flying over.To the south there is so much sound it is difficult to know for sure which turbines I hear. Turbine 73 for sure plus 74a probably or 70 or 72a. Sound level at the back of the house is 46dba-63dbc and at the front of the house 49dba-66dbc. Today my wife told me she had a difficult time going to sleep and that from 2:10 – 3:20 AM she was up reading a book.

August 22 –
    5:10 AM Wind SE 17 rpms. Jet sound. I hear turbines 4, 6, 73 and 74a.
    7:35 AM Continue to hear the 4 turbines mentioned before turning @ 13.23 rpms. Still the jet sound, not quite as loud as earlier.

August 24 – The last 3 days we were to northern WI (Dunbar) 4-wheeling. It was so beautiful and  peaceful camping in the forest of Marinette County. There were not wind turbines or jet sounds filling the air like here at home.
    1:30 PM Wind N-NE. As I got out of the truck there was that annoying, aggravating turbine noise. It was not as loud as sometimes, yet so annoying after being in a wonderful, peaceful, non skyline polluted area all weekend.
    3:30 PM Wind NE calm11 rpms. Sounds not too loud.
    10:50 PM Wind calm. 11.3 rpms. Low hum for sound.

August 25 –
    5:10 AM Wind NE calm @ 11 rpms. Turbines turning slow and quiet.
    1:50 PM Wind NE calm @ 11 rpms. Turning slow and quiet.
    8:25 PM Wind NE 3 knots @ 11.3 rpms, slow and quiet all day.
    11:35 PM Wind E 3 knots. Turbine 4 is louder than earlier and turbine 73 jet flying over sound. Of course you remember turbine 73 is 2480’ away or almost half a mile.

August 26 –
     6:50 AM Wind E slight breeze @ 16.3 rpms. Some whooshing sound and hum.
    8:35 AM 13 rpms, wind E.
    10:05 PM Wind E Turbines 4 and 73 are giving off the jet flying over sound.
     Turbine 73 is louder, 44dba-63dbc. Our son has already been down to tell me he is not able to go to sleep and is making threats as to what he would like to do to the turbines and has names for them that he don’t want to tell because he knows he would get in trouble for swearing. If you have not been reading along turbine 73 is 2480 feet away from his bedroom.

August 27 –
    5:35 AM Wind SE calm. Turbines 73 & 4 are loud. Turbine 4 (1560’) 47.7dba – 61.3dbc with
    a loud jet sound @ 18 rpms.
    2:30 PM Wind SW with whooshing sound.
    11:30 PM Wind S calmTurbines 4 & 73 jet sound, not real loud, but annoying and I can hear as soon as I step on the porch. Turbine 4 45.6dba – 64.7dbc. Turbine 73 42.9 dba – 55 dbc. #73 is 2480’ from house.

August 28 –
    7:15 AM Wind S calm, turbine 4 46.5dba – 61.6dbc. Turbines 4 & 73 sound like they are fighting with each other as to who can be louder. Really this is far from the loudest sound the turbines make.
    8:00 AM Wind S, 5 knots. The air is filled with turbine sounds from a jet flying over to whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. It is nauseating today. It is difficult to work outside in the yard. I don’t get headaches very often, but I feel one coming on today. Turbine 4, 17rpms, 45.7dba – 61dbc. Turbine 73 14.6rpms, 47.4dba – 63.9dbc. I can hear the turbine noise in the computer room as I write this. Keep in mind turbine 4 is 1560’ and turbine 73 is 2480’ from my house. I can also hear turbine 6 and others this morning. The air seems dense with clouds. My13 year old son just got up which is 11:50 AM. He told me the turbines were very loud last night and he was awake every hour. He recited each hour by number. Now he also has a headache.
    9:35 PM Wind calm All the turbines I can see are not turning.
    10:10 PM Not turning

August 29 –
    7:05 AM Wind NW 3 knots, seem calm. 11.6rpms turning slow and mostly quiet other than a hum.
    5:30 PM About half of the 86 industrial wind turbines are not turning.
    8:00 PM Wind SW 3 knots really calm. 11 rpms. Turbine 4 just humming.
    10:15 PM calm. Turbines turned SW grinding hum, but can be heard on our patio 1560’ away.

August 30 –
    6:55 AM Wind SW calm, 14.3 rpms. Turbine 4 slow, humming and whooshing sound interrupting the quiet morning while sitting on the patio.
    8:10 AM wind SW calm, 11 rpms, low humming, but can hear in the kitchen while making salsa.
    10:20 AM It is calm, quiet and peaceful. None of the 86 industrial turbines are turning nor have been for almost an hour☺
    11:35 AM Calm and peaceful☺ None turning.
    3:05 PM wind SW calm @ 11 rpms with low hum
    8:10 PM calm. The turbines are turned in many different directions and not all are not turning. Again, thank goodness for alternative and EFFICIENT electricity production from COAL, OIL, NUCLEAR AND NATURAL GAS.
    11:45 PM wind S, calm @ rpms, slow turning with low hum.

August 31 – Wind SW calm. Turbines turning @ 11 rpms with low hum.
    9:35 AM calm, 0 rpms from all 86 turbines (that means they all are not turning)
    4:15 PM Wind S, 5 knots, 14.6 rpms. Fairly quiet.
    7:40 PM wind SE 5 knots 14.6 rpms. Whooshing sound.
    11:00 PM Wind SE slight, but I can hear turbines 4 , 73 & 74a.   

This story is being told wherever people live in the shadow industrial wind turbines. In this Oct 6, 2008 CNBC news segment,  two families from Shelborne, Ontario speak about having to leave homes made uninhabitable by wind turbines sited too close.

For those whose internet connection isn't fast enough to view this video, a transcript is provided below.  MSN's print report on the same story follows the transcript.

Reporter: At first Ernie Marshall was all for the new wind farm going up near his home.

Ernie Marshall: It sounded like a great idea.

Reporter: But soon after the turbines started rolling, he says he started suffering a litany of health complaints.

Ernie Marshall: I've had problems with my heart, I've had problems with my ears. It traumatizes your whole body.

Reporter: Same for Helen and Bill Fraser.

Helen Fraser: We were like, 'Yeah, more green energy"

Reporter: But they also say they developed odd symtoms.

Helen Fraser: Headaches. Major Headaches. Not sleeping. Aching. Like terrible body aches.

Reporter: In the rush to build wind farms, there are now voices of those who live in the shadows of these gigantic turbines, who say the constant noise, the flickering light, the low frequency vibrations are making them sick.
But that often, no one believes them.

Ernie Marshall: Then everybody kept calling me a liar. Sit there for a week. And listen to it. And see what it does to your body.

Reporter: Some researchers think there may be a probelm. There's a book coming out later this year, calling it "Wind Turbine Syndrome." Whatever it's labeled, this Canadian doctor says the symptoms being reported from around the world deserve more research.

Dr. Robert McMurtry, University of Western Ontario: Depending on your distance you will have 30 , 40,  50% of people who are troubled. Not a hundred percent. And that's why it's so important to do the studies to see just how many  are troubled.

Reporter: Some scientists say that until more research is done on possible health effects,  the companies should stop building these turbines any less than 2 kilometers (about 1.25 miles) from where people work or live.
But those who represent the industry say thousands of people live near wind turbines without problem:

Unidentified Wind Developer: And that research has come to a pretty solid conclusion that the wind turbines do not have an adverse impact on human health.

Reporter: So for now, some of those affected are simply moving away.

Ernie Marshall: I had to get out.  Or I wouldn't be standing here right now talking to you.

Reporter: And in many cases they say their symptoms then vanished.

Helen Fraser: I don't have headaches anymore.

Reporter: It may be an unforseen side-effect of our bid to capture the power of the wind.

Avis Favaro
CNBC News
Shelburne, Ontario

Wind turbines cause health problems, residents say