Inside Renewable Energy Is Wind Noise Pollution?

As more wind turbines are developed closer to communities, a number of homeowners within close range are complaining about noise. Some wind advocates label these people “anti-wind.” At the same time, anti-wind advocates latch onto the sound issues, saying they are a public health problem. Surely, there's a middle ground. Unfortunately, no one has done a comprehensive study on the impact of wind turbine noise on people. Without an objective examination of the issue, miscommunication and mistrust will likely continue. In this podcast, we'll go to the island of Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine to hear about the complaints of a group of homeowners who are aggravated by the noise of three 1.5 MW wind turbines in their backyards. We'll ask, “is it okay to sacrifice a few people for the greater good of the many?” We'll talk with Jim Cummings, founder of the Acoustic Ecology Institute, about how widespread complaints about noise are. He'll also talk about the various trade-offs when making concessions to homeowners. Finally, we'll go to one small town in Texas and hear about the positive economic and cultural impact of the world's largest wind farm. Inside Renewable Energy is a weekly audio news program featuring stories and interviews on all the latest developments in the renewable energy industries.