Watertown Daily Times | New study disputes Cape noise levels
New study disputes Cape noise levels
DEVELOPERS STAND BY REPORTS: Consultant says other studies showed higher background noise in town
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — The background noise in the town is not as loud as studies in two wind developers' statements say, according to a new study commissioned by the Wind Power Ethics Group.
But the developers stand by their studies.
The new study was done by Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., Champaign, Ill. Mr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement. Link here to read full story
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
New study disputes Cape noise levels
Watertown Daily Times | New study disputes Cape noise levels
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — The background noise in the town is not as loud as studies in two wind developers' statements say, according to a new study commissioned by the Wind Power Ethics Group.
But the developers stand by their studies.
The new study was done by Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., Champaign, Ill. Mr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement.
The finding contradicts the studies done by Hessler Associates Inc., Haymarket, Va., for the draft environmental impact statement of BP Alternative Energy's Cape Vincent Wind Farm and supplemental draft environmental impact statement of Acciona Energy North America's St. Lawrence Wind Farm.
"The studies they've done have shown higher ambient background noise levels," said John L. Byrne, a member of WPEG. "That allows them to put more turbines in a smaller area and closer to homes."
With quieter conditions, the noise from wind turbines is more noticeable. If the Planning Board were to require siting according to state Department of Environmental Conservation guidelines of less than 5 decibels above ambient, the turbines would be forced farther away from residences.
Mr. Byrne said WPEG decided to hire Schomer & Associates because the group wanted noise measurements from a nationally recognized, independent acoustic engineering firm.
"Hessler was hired by the developer, not the town or citizens," he said. "Our report was done by somebody hired by citizens to give us a nonbiased report. He who pays the piper picks the tune."
The report specifically argued against the BP study, but says the Acciona study has similar problems.
"Clearly, they are trying to attack Hessler's study," said James H. Madden, project manager for BP. "But they've stretched the truth here."
In the BP study, Hessler concluded that in summertime conditions, ambient noise is about 47 decibels. The study estimated that in winter ambient noise would be 37 to 42 decibels. In the Acciona study, Hessler found an average of 44 decibels during the summer and 37 decibels during the winter when the wind is blowing.
But Schomer found the noise levels averaged at 30 decibels, with the quietest nighttime hours at 20 decibels and the entire night at 25 decibels.
"Using an inaccurate, elevated A-weighted ambient level ... allows wind developers to place wind turbines much closer to non-participating residents," Schomer's report said.
The difference is because "Hessler's BP study for the Cape Vincent Wind Power Facility appears to have selected the noisiest sites, the noisiest time of year and the noisiest positions at each measurement site," the Schomer report said.
Mr. Madden said that claim is false and misleading.
"There's enough room for debate on how you measure noise that they can come up with something that has different results," he said.
The Schomer report found that Hessler consistently sampled at the noisiest time of year and chose sampling positions near roads or machinery and sites that were industrial instead of residential.
Site No. 2 in the Hessler BP study was a farm. The Schomer report noted, "This position actually is right in the middle of noisy farm machinery and two sheds, and not as near to the house where people reside."
Mr. Madden said the farm is inactive — only horses are raised — and no heavy machinery is used.
In the BP study, Hessler took noise measurements in late August and early September, at the "peak of insect noises," the Schomer report said. Schomer said insect noises are at higher frequencies, while wind turbine noise is at lower and mid-level frequencies.
"So even if insect noise was present year round instead of for a few weeks, it should still not be included in the ambient because it provides little or no masking of the wind turbine sound," he said.
Mr. Madden said the Hessler study always was acknowledged as the summer study. The winter study, completed in December 2007, will be released with other reports as part of the supplemental draft environmental impact statement, he said.
The measurements in the Schomer report were taken in June.
"The only time of the summer when there is no insect noise is at the time of their study," Mr. Madden said.
In BP's study, Hessler threw out the measurements from a site that was consistently quieter than the rest.
Schomer's optimal position — near property lines at a rural residence and dairy farm — always garnered quieter measurements. The average result from a weeklong measurement was up to 10 decibels quieter than at a similar position in Hessler's study nearer to roads and residences.
Mr. Madden said Hessler's measurement locations were out of concern for where people live. While Schomer sites "Planning Board guidelines," Mr. Madden said the town does not have any wind ordinance and the assertion the Schomer study is more compatible with town guidelines is "incorrect."
In a footnote, the report says the Acciona study "is very similar to the first report in scope and approach, and it suffers from the same deficiencies."
Peter E. Zedick, Acciona's project manager, said Acciona also will stand by its study.
"The ambient levels in Acciona's study were representative of living conditions in Cape Vincent because we chose to conduct the study from areas of the site with an average community sound level — not the loudest or the quietest, neither of which is an accurate representation," he said in an e-mail. "The difference in location choice of the studies explains the minor difference in the findings."
Mr. Byrne said using the lower measurements when configuring setbacks will give greater protection to nonparticipating residents.
"We are hoping the town board will go ahead and do the right thing and create real setbacks and protect the citizens," he said.
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — The background noise in the town is not as loud as studies in two wind developers' statements say, according to a new study commissioned by the Wind Power Ethics Group.
But the developers stand by their studies.
The new study was done by Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., Champaign, Ill. Mr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement.
The finding contradicts the studies done by Hessler Associates Inc., Haymarket, Va., for the draft environmental impact statement of BP Alternative Energy's Cape Vincent Wind Farm and supplemental draft environmental impact statement of Acciona Energy North America's St. Lawrence Wind Farm.
"The studies they've done have shown higher ambient background noise levels," said John L. Byrne, a member of WPEG. "That allows them to put more turbines in a smaller area and closer to homes."
With quieter conditions, the noise from wind turbines is more noticeable. If the Planning Board were to require siting according to state Department of Environmental Conservation guidelines of less than 5 decibels above ambient, the turbines would be forced farther away from residences.
Mr. Byrne said WPEG decided to hire Schomer & Associates because the group wanted noise measurements from a nationally recognized, independent acoustic engineering firm.
"Hessler was hired by the developer, not the town or citizens," he said. "Our report was done by somebody hired by citizens to give us a nonbiased report. He who pays the piper picks the tune."
The report specifically argued against the BP study, but says the Acciona study has similar problems.
"Clearly, they are trying to attack Hessler's study," said James H. Madden, project manager for BP. "But they've stretched the truth here."
In the BP study, Hessler concluded that in summertime conditions, ambient noise is about 47 decibels. The study estimated that in winter ambient noise would be 37 to 42 decibels. In the Acciona study, Hessler found an average of 44 decibels during the summer and 37 decibels during the winter when the wind is blowing.
But Schomer found the noise levels averaged at 30 decibels, with the quietest nighttime hours at 20 decibels and the entire night at 25 decibels.
"Using an inaccurate, elevated A-weighted ambient level ... allows wind developers to place wind turbines much closer to non-participating residents," Schomer's report said.
The difference is because "Hessler's BP study for the Cape Vincent Wind Power Facility appears to have selected the noisiest sites, the noisiest time of year and the noisiest positions at each measurement site," the Schomer report said.
Mr. Madden said that claim is false and misleading.
"There's enough room for debate on how you measure noise that they can come up with something that has different results," he said.
The Schomer report found that Hessler consistently sampled at the noisiest time of year and chose sampling positions near roads or machinery and sites that were industrial instead of residential.
Site No. 2 in the Hessler BP study was a farm. The Schomer report noted, "This position actually is right in the middle of noisy farm machinery and two sheds, and not as near to the house where people reside."
Mr. Madden said the farm is inactive — only horses are raised — and no heavy machinery is used.
In the BP study, Hessler took noise measurements in late August and early September, at the "peak of insect noises," the Schomer report said. Schomer said insect noises are at higher frequencies, while wind turbine noise is at lower and mid-level frequencies.
"So even if insect noise was present year round instead of for a few weeks, it should still not be included in the ambient because it provides little or no masking of the wind turbine sound," he said.
Mr. Madden said the Hessler study always was acknowledged as the summer study. The winter study, completed in December 2007, will be released with other reports as part of the supplemental draft environmental impact statement, he said.
The measurements in the Schomer report were taken in June.
"The only time of the summer when there is no insect noise is at the time of their study," Mr. Madden said.
In BP's study, Hessler threw out the measurements from a site that was consistently quieter than the rest.
Schomer's optimal position — near property lines at a rural residence and dairy farm — always garnered quieter measurements. The average result from a weeklong measurement was up to 10 decibels quieter than at a similar position in Hessler's study nearer to roads and residences.
Mr. Madden said Hessler's measurement locations were out of concern for where people live. While Schomer sites "Planning Board guidelines," Mr. Madden said the town does not have any wind ordinance and the assertion the Schomer study is more compatible with town guidelines is "incorrect."
In a footnote, the report says the Acciona study "is very similar to the first report in scope and approach, and it suffers from the same deficiencies."
Peter E. Zedick, Acciona's project manager, said Acciona also will stand by its study.
"The ambient levels in Acciona's study were representative of living conditions in Cape Vincent because we chose to conduct the study from areas of the site with an average community sound level — not the loudest or the quietest, neither of which is an accurate representation," he said in an e-mail. "The difference in location choice of the studies explains the minor difference in the findings."
Mr. Byrne said using the lower measurements when configuring setbacks will give greater protection to nonparticipating residents.
"We are hoping the town board will go ahead and do the right thing and create real setbacks and protect the citizens," he said.
New study disputes Cape noise levels
Watertown Daily Times New study disputes Cape noise levels
DEVELOPERS STAND BY REPORTS: Consultant says other studies showed higher background noise in town
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — The background noise in the town is not as loud as studies in two wind developers' statements say, according to a new study commissioned by the Wind Power Ethics Group.
But the developers stand by their studies.
The new study was done by Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., Champaign, Ill. Mr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement. Continue reading via this link
DEVELOPERS STAND BY REPORTS: Consultant says other studies showed higher background noise in town
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — The background noise in the town is not as loud as studies in two wind developers' statements say, according to a new study commissioned by the Wind Power Ethics Group.
But the developers stand by their studies.
The new study was done by Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., Champaign, Ill. Mr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement. Continue reading via this link
Monday, June 1, 2009
Cape Vincent officials ignoring certain laws
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2009
Warning: the following letter contains a link to a video that may be disturbing to many who have laid their faith and trust in the local officials of Cape Vincent.
I could not believe my eyes when I went to a Cape Vincent Town Board meeting last month. The members seem to think state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's guidelines, and New York state town laws are "a waste of time." They feel they are good for other communities but not Cape Vincent. I began to wonder what other laws don't apply to them. It should concern all residents that their elected officials only comply with the laws they feel are not a waste of their time, even if they come from the highest legal authority in New York, Attorney General Cuomo.
View the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZfJ-bCmP3s.
John Byrne
Cape Vincent
Cape Vincent officials ignoring certain laws
Watertown Daily Times | Cape Vincent officials ignoring certain laws
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2009
Warning: the following letter contains a link to a video that may be disturbing to many who have laid their faith and trust in the local officials of Cape Vincent.
I could not believe my eyes when I went to a Cape Vincent Town Board meeting last month. The members seem to think state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's guidelines, and New York state town laws are "a waste of time." They feel they are good for other communities but not Cape Vincent. I began to wonder what other laws don't apply to them. It should concern all residents that their elected officials only comply with the laws they feel are not a waste of their time, even if they come from the highest legal authority in New York, Attorney General Cuomo.
link here to view video
John Byrne
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2009
Warning: the following letter contains a link to a video that may be disturbing to many who have laid their faith and trust in the local officials of Cape Vincent.
I could not believe my eyes when I went to a Cape Vincent Town Board meeting last month. The members seem to think state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's guidelines, and New York state town laws are "a waste of time." They feel they are good for other communities but not Cape Vincent. I began to wonder what other laws don't apply to them. It should concern all residents that their elected officials only comply with the laws they feel are not a waste of their time, even if they come from the highest legal authority in New York, Attorney General Cuomo.
link here to view video
John Byrne
Friday, May 29, 2009
Beauty of Cape Vincent area is threatened
Watertown Daily Times Beauty of Cape Vincent area is threatened
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009
Since the windmills have gone up on Wolfe Island, which is right across from Cape Vincent, some local people seem to have changed their minds as to how they feel about having one of these industrial turbines close to their property. I have also talked to people on Wolfe Island, and they are not happy about them, but it is too late.
There are so many issues with these turbines. The town has put new water lines in the township to promote growth and increase our tax base, but will people want to come to this area when they see turbines everywhere in the town? Also, the health issue is a very big concern. How will these turbines affect the children and adults? I believe more research is needed in this area, and of course there is also the effect on wildlife.
Continue reading via title link
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009
Since the windmills have gone up on Wolfe Island, which is right across from Cape Vincent, some local people seem to have changed their minds as to how they feel about having one of these industrial turbines close to their property. I have also talked to people on Wolfe Island, and they are not happy about them, but it is too late.
There are so many issues with these turbines. The town has put new water lines in the township to promote growth and increase our tax base, but will people want to come to this area when they see turbines everywhere in the town? Also, the health issue is a very big concern. How will these turbines affect the children and adults? I believe more research is needed in this area, and of course there is also the effect on wildlife.
Continue reading via title link
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Go slowly before committing to wind power
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009
The letter from Julia Gosier published on May 16 is headlined "Wind energy option environmentally sound" although its content is principally a snide commentary directed toward Chuck Ebbing and me. There are many downsides to placing large industrial wind turbines, particularly in populated areas, and these have been amply described in your publication and others. As for the claimed benefits, as engineers, we do not simply accept the simplistic declarations of the developers full of such appealing but meaningless terms as "green" and "free."
Since the wind does not always blow at sufficient velocities, wind turbines, if properly located, may produce on average over a year approximately 25-30 percent of their rated power. Therefore, the remaining 70-75 percent of the wind facility's rated capacity will be supplied by conventional sources. In order to back up the natural variability of wind, however, these conventional sources of power must be run 100 percent of the time. Thus, even when the wind is generating power, these other sources must be running and ready to ramp up quickly as the wind dies down. While running, some of these machines continue to use fuel and create emissions.
In New York state, there are a number of different sources of power that supply our electrical energy. There are many considerations for the grid operator in deciding, when wind-generated power becomes available, which source to cut back.
Many other scenarios are possible, and the question is too complex for definitive analysis. What is apparent, however, is that the wind developers grossly exaggerate the potential savings in fuel and emissions from the use of wind power. The best guide may be to examine actual usage in areas where wind generators have been operating. Denmark and Germany have both invested heavily in wind turbines for electrical generation and the experience in both countries is that their extensive use of wind has not saved fuel or reduced emissions of greenhouse gases.
Because the benefits from wind are uncertain and marginal at best, it is apparent that we should go slowly and carefully. We must evaluate all of the positive and negative aspects of wind power before committing large areas of the north country to these industrial turbines. What is certain is that there are substantial added costs, shared by taxpayers and ratepayers, for the electricity produced by wind turbines.
Albert H. Bowers
Chaumont
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
In favor of Cape study ~ Opinion
Watertown Daily Times In favor of Cape study
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009
Upon attending the public hearing of the St. Lawrence Wind Farm supplemental draft environmental impact statement, we found that you don't always find out what a group is thinking by listening to the noisiest members.
There are only a few people in the town of Cape Vincent and surrounding communities who are trying to influence the Cape Vincent Town Board and Planning Board in a negative way about the environmental studies completed by the wind farm.
We are in favor of the SDEIS as presented.
Paul and Elaine Mason
Cape Vincent
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009
Upon attending the public hearing of the St. Lawrence Wind Farm supplemental draft environmental impact statement, we found that you don't always find out what a group is thinking by listening to the noisiest members.
There are only a few people in the town of Cape Vincent and surrounding communities who are trying to influence the Cape Vincent Town Board and Planning Board in a negative way about the environmental studies completed by the wind farm.
We are in favor of the SDEIS as presented.
Paul and Elaine Mason
Cape Vincent
Friday, May 22, 2009
Comments ~ To Accoina's SDEIS ~
Acciona Energia is only one of the foreign wind companies attempting to develop a wind complex in our tiny community.
These Comments were submitted to Acciona energia
in RE: to the proposed
These Comments were submitted to Acciona energia
in RE: to the proposed
St. Lawrence Wind complex slated for Cape Vincent Ny.
I believe that they were prepared on behalf of WEPEG by~
Menter , Rudin & Tivilpice
May 22,2009
MRTComments052209
Cape Vincent farm sold to biomass energy firm
Watertown Daily Times | Cape Vincent farm sold to biomass energy firm
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — More than 560 acres along Fox Creek Road could be part of a fast-growth woody willow plantation sending wood chips to a biomass facility in the next five to seven years.
A property transaction was recorded in the Jefferson County clerk's office May 11 which shows the property was sold by Charles C. Bourquin Jr. and J. Paula Bourquin to Celtic Energy Farm LLC.
Continue reading via title link
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — More than 560 acres along Fox Creek Road could be part of a fast-growth woody willow plantation sending wood chips to a biomass facility in the next five to seven years.
A property transaction was recorded in the Jefferson County clerk's office May 11 which shows the property was sold by Charles C. Bourquin Jr. and J. Paula Bourquin to Celtic Energy Farm LLC.
Continue reading via title link
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
History, public access concerns for Galloo Island
Watertown Daily Times History, public access concerns for Galloo Island
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009
SACKETS HARBOR — Members of the public asked Monday that the construction of Galloo Island Wind Farm include attempts at increasing public access and preserving history on the island.
The comments came during two public hearings on the project at the Hounsfield Public Safety Building.
Upstate NY Power Corp., backed by Babcock & Brown Ltd., plans to build an 84-turbine wind farm on the island rated at 252 megawatts — about enough to power 60,000 homes. The wind farm will sit about 51/2 miles from the nearest mainland.
Continue reading via title link
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009
SACKETS HARBOR — Members of the public asked Monday that the construction of Galloo Island Wind Farm include attempts at increasing public access and preserving history on the island.
The comments came during two public hearings on the project at the Hounsfield Public Safety Building.
Upstate NY Power Corp., backed by Babcock & Brown Ltd., plans to build an 84-turbine wind farm on the island rated at 252 megawatts — about enough to power 60,000 homes. The wind farm will sit about 51/2 miles from the nearest mainland.
Continue reading via title link
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Public divided on wind study
Public divided on wind study
CAPE VINCENT: Some seek more info, others say go forward
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — Members of the public were of a divided mind Saturday — calling for more studies and saying the time for studying is over on the St. Lawrence Wind Farm.
About 150 people attended a public hearing at Cape Vincent Recreation Park and 36 made comments on the supplemental environmental impact statement, an update of the draft environmental impact statement the Planning Board required on June 28, 2007. Acciona is looking to build the 53-turbine project in the northern agricultural district of the town.
Continue reading via title link
CAPE VINCENT: Some seek more info, others say go forward
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009
CAPE VINCENT — Members of the public were of a divided mind Saturday — calling for more studies and saying the time for studying is over on the St. Lawrence Wind Farm.
About 150 people attended a public hearing at Cape Vincent Recreation Park and 36 made comments on the supplemental environmental impact statement, an update of the draft environmental impact statement the Planning Board required on June 28, 2007. Acciona is looking to build the 53-turbine project in the northern agricultural district of the town.
Continue reading via title link
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Wind energy option environmentally sound ~ Letter
Wind energy option environmentally sound
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009
I am constantly amazed by the fact that our anti-wind people in the towns of Lyme and Cape Vincent are so oblivious to the precarious state of our environment. There are many very well-educated and successful people in this group. There is a self-proclaimed nautical engineer who is quoted in this newspaper to be a ship designer for Mobil Oil. These are the very ships that spew uncontrolled heavy-metal-based soot into our air as they travel through the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. This is the pollutant that the Environmental Protection Agency now says is very dangerous to our health. Does he not care?
Another member of this group says he was a design engineer with Carrier Corporation working exclusively in the field of air conditioning. Air conditioning is also listed as one of the foremost causes of atmospheric poisoning. Does he not care?
Continue reading via title link
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009
I am constantly amazed by the fact that our anti-wind people in the towns of Lyme and Cape Vincent are so oblivious to the precarious state of our environment. There are many very well-educated and successful people in this group. There is a self-proclaimed nautical engineer who is quoted in this newspaper to be a ship designer for Mobil Oil. These are the very ships that spew uncontrolled heavy-metal-based soot into our air as they travel through the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. This is the pollutant that the Environmental Protection Agency now says is very dangerous to our health. Does he not care?
Another member of this group says he was a design engineer with Carrier Corporation working exclusively in the field of air conditioning. Air conditioning is also listed as one of the foremost causes of atmospheric poisoning. Does he not care?
Continue reading via title link
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Watertown Daily Times | Aubertine to lead panel on energy after shakeup
Watertown Daily Times | Aubertine to lead panel on energy after shakeup
By JUDE SEYMOUR
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009
State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, was appointed Monday as acting chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee as part of a shakeup orchestrated following the arrest of Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn.
Mr. Parker faces a felony criminal mischief charge Friday after allegedly striking a New York Post photographer.
Continue reading via title link
By JUDE SEYMOUR
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009
State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, was appointed Monday as acting chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee as part of a shakeup orchestrated following the arrest of Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn.
Mr. Parker faces a felony criminal mischief charge Friday after allegedly striking a New York Post photographer.
Continue reading via title link
Wolfe Island Wind Turbines > Thousand Islands Life Magazine > Thousand Islands Life Magazine All Archives
Wolfe Island Wind Turbines > Thousand Islands Life Magazine > Thousand Islands Life Magazine All Archives
Written by Susan W. Smith posted on May 12, 2009 16:49
The following was received in mid-April:
Dear Susan,
I love your online magazine and appreciate all the wonderful work that you are doing for those of us who love the area; thank you for carrying on Paul Malo's work. I have lived in New York my whole life, have spent summers in the islands since 1964, and have owned a house on Dodge Bay in Cape Vincent since 1996.
I feel that a curse has been put on the islands, and it has so colored my feelings for the area that I feel ill. As I'm close to Cape Vincent, the threat of the wind turbines continues to hang, literally, over my head. I wonder that the "thousand islands life" has not taken on this cause. The beauty of the islands and the history of the area has always been a large part of your magazine; have I missed your response to the threat to this irreversible change to our beauty?
Continue reading via title link
Written by Susan W. Smith posted on May 12, 2009 16:49
The following was received in mid-April:
Dear Susan,
I love your online magazine and appreciate all the wonderful work that you are doing for those of us who love the area; thank you for carrying on Paul Malo's work. I have lived in New York my whole life, have spent summers in the islands since 1964, and have owned a house on Dodge Bay in Cape Vincent since 1996.
I feel that a curse has been put on the islands, and it has so colored my feelings for the area that I feel ill. As I'm close to Cape Vincent, the threat of the wind turbines continues to hang, literally, over my head. I wonder that the "thousand islands life" has not taken on this cause. The beauty of the islands and the history of the area has always been a large part of your magazine; have I missed your response to the threat to this irreversible change to our beauty?
Continue reading via title link
Monday, May 11, 2009
Background sound measurements and analysis in the vicinity of Cape Vincent, NY
Background sound measurements and analysis in the vicinity of Cape Vincent, NY
May 11, 2009 by Paul Schomer, Ph.D., P.E.
Summary:
Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., was invited by the residents of Cape Vincent, NY to evaluate the pre-construction noise studies conducted Hessler and Associates. Dr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement. His findings contradict the studies done by Hessler Associates Inc. The executive summary of his report is reproduced on this page.
Executive Summary
The acoustic consulting engineering firm Hessler Associates, Inc., Haymarket, Virginia produced two sound level assessment reports for two wind projects proposed for Cape Vincent, New York: the first report in 2007 for BP and the second report in 2009 for AES-Acciona.
Because there were concerns early on among local citizens that the BP report was misleading, the Wind Power Ethics Group (WPEG) contracted with Schomer and Associates, Champaign, Illinois to conduct an independent background sound survey of Cape Vincent. Hessler's BP study for the Cape Vincent Wind Power Facility appears to have selected the noisiest sites, the noisiest time of year, and the noisiest positions at each measurement site. Collectively, these choices resulted in a substantial overestimate of the a-weighted ambient sound level, 45-50 dB according to Hessler.
This study was designed to address a number of flaws noted in Hessler's BP study. First, a summer survey was planned so it would not coincide with the emergence of vocal adult insects (e.g., fall crickets and cicadas on August 1). Two monitoring sites were selected within the Town of Cape Vincent. One site was a rural residence and the other a small dairy farm. At each of these sites, two sound level meters and a single small weather station were run for one week of continuous data collection. At each site one meter was set up close to the house or farm building and a road. This site was called the "Hessler" position, because it was typical of sites selected by Hessler for his studies in Cape Vincent. The other position was called the
Community position and it was located back away from the noise influences of roads, houses and farm operations. The Community position also reflected guidelines adopted by the Cape Vincent Planning Board whereby sound levels were to be measured at the property lines, not residences.
The analysis of the spectral (frequency) content of the sound showed that much of the difference in sound levels between Hessler's study and this study was attributable to insect noise, sounds near 5000 Hz. Hessler failed to remove insect sound from his data and recalculate A-weighted sound levels, even though he previously (2006) recommended this procedure to other scientists and engineers in a professional journal publication. Had he followed his own advice, ambient sound levels would have been more comparable to the results in this study.
Furthermore, and more importantly, wind turbine sound spectra are low frequency and midfrequency phenomena; therefore, higher frequency insect noise will not mask wind turbine sounds. So even if insect noise was present year round instead of for a few weeks it should still not be included in the ambient because it provides little or no masking of the wind turbine sound.
Other examples of Hessler's misleading choices include arbitrarily discarding sound data from one of his sites because the levels were too low. Remarkably, the levels at that site were more comparable to this study. Also, Hessler described position 3 in the BP study as "representative of a typical residence along NYS Rte 12E." However, he failed to show that the trailer in the photograph was a field office for a construction company installing a new Town of Cape Vincent water district. Furthermore, at the back of the trailer, out of view, was a marshalling yard for trucks, supplies and heavy equipment. The choice of this site and suggesting it is a typical residence was very misleading.
The accurate measurement of spectrally-relevant ambient sound is important because these levels are used by wind developers to assess wind turbine noise impacts on nearby, nonparticipating residents. Local Cape Vincent Planning Board guidelines suggest these impacts should not exceed 5 dB above the A-weighted ambient at the property lines of non-participating residents. New York State noise assessment policy states any new sound that exceed 6 dB above the A-weighted ambient should undergo a detailed assessment and the developer is required to mitigate any excessive noise. Therefore, using an inaccurate, elevated A-weighted ambient level, such as 47 dB, allows wind developers to place wind turbines much closer to non-participating residents in such a way that the A-weighted wind turbine noise level will be 52 dB (e.g., 5 dB above Hessler's elevated ambient level). A much more accurate and typical ambient level is 30 dB, which is an average of both "Hessler" and Community positions during daytime, evening and nighttime periods from this study. Using 30 dB as a typical A-weighted ambient level would then require wind developers to plan a wind farm where predicted noise at non-participating property lines would not exceed 35 dB, or 5 dB above this study's A-weighted ambient level. In summary, to adequately protect rural residents that are not participants in proposed wind farms it is essential to have accurate, unbiased assessments of ambient sounds.
In conclusion:
1. The Hessler position at a measurement site systematically and significantly yields higher sound levels than does the Community position.
2. The sound levels measured in this study show Cape Vincent to be a quiet rural area, much as depicted by the data for Hessler's position 4.
3. Measurements, such as those conducted at Hessler's position 3, are not indicative of the noise environment of typical residences in the Cape Vincent area.
4. Failure to remove insect noise in Hessler's study violated his own recommended survey and analytical techniques and substantially misrepresented typical ambient sound levels.
5. In assessing potential noise impacts from wind turbine development, rather than using 45-50 dB A-weighted levels as suggested by Hessler, a more accurate level would be 30 dB, which is the average value for the daytime, evening and nighttime L90 sound levels observed at both the "Hessler" and Community positions for sites A and B in this study. Arguably, the level should be down at 20 to 25 dB, since an A-weighted L90 of 20 dB occurs during the quietest nighttime hours, and the A-weighted L90 for the whole 9-hour night is 25 dB.
The full report can be accessed by clicking on the link here ~
.~Schomer report~
May 11, 2009 by Paul Schomer, Ph.D., P.E.
Summary:
Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., was invited by the residents of Cape Vincent, NY to evaluate the pre-construction noise studies conducted Hessler and Associates. Dr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement. His findings contradict the studies done by Hessler Associates Inc. The executive summary of his report is reproduced on this page.
Executive Summary
The acoustic consulting engineering firm Hessler Associates, Inc., Haymarket, Virginia produced two sound level assessment reports for two wind projects proposed for Cape Vincent, New York: the first report in 2007 for BP and the second report in 2009 for AES-Acciona.
Because there were concerns early on among local citizens that the BP report was misleading, the Wind Power Ethics Group (WPEG) contracted with Schomer and Associates, Champaign, Illinois to conduct an independent background sound survey of Cape Vincent. Hessler's BP study for the Cape Vincent Wind Power Facility appears to have selected the noisiest sites, the noisiest time of year, and the noisiest positions at each measurement site. Collectively, these choices resulted in a substantial overestimate of the a-weighted ambient sound level, 45-50 dB according to Hessler.
This study was designed to address a number of flaws noted in Hessler's BP study. First, a summer survey was planned so it would not coincide with the emergence of vocal adult insects (e.g., fall crickets and cicadas on August 1). Two monitoring sites were selected within the Town of Cape Vincent. One site was a rural residence and the other a small dairy farm. At each of these sites, two sound level meters and a single small weather station were run for one week of continuous data collection. At each site one meter was set up close to the house or farm building and a road. This site was called the "Hessler" position, because it was typical of sites selected by Hessler for his studies in Cape Vincent. The other position was called the
Community position and it was located back away from the noise influences of roads, houses and farm operations. The Community position also reflected guidelines adopted by the Cape Vincent Planning Board whereby sound levels were to be measured at the property lines, not residences.
The analysis of the spectral (frequency) content of the sound showed that much of the difference in sound levels between Hessler's study and this study was attributable to insect noise, sounds near 5000 Hz. Hessler failed to remove insect sound from his data and recalculate A-weighted sound levels, even though he previously (2006) recommended this procedure to other scientists and engineers in a professional journal publication. Had he followed his own advice, ambient sound levels would have been more comparable to the results in this study.
Furthermore, and more importantly, wind turbine sound spectra are low frequency and midfrequency phenomena; therefore, higher frequency insect noise will not mask wind turbine sounds. So even if insect noise was present year round instead of for a few weeks it should still not be included in the ambient because it provides little or no masking of the wind turbine sound.
Other examples of Hessler's misleading choices include arbitrarily discarding sound data from one of his sites because the levels were too low. Remarkably, the levels at that site were more comparable to this study. Also, Hessler described position 3 in the BP study as "representative of a typical residence along NYS Rte 12E." However, he failed to show that the trailer in the photograph was a field office for a construction company installing a new Town of Cape Vincent water district. Furthermore, at the back of the trailer, out of view, was a marshalling yard for trucks, supplies and heavy equipment. The choice of this site and suggesting it is a typical residence was very misleading.
The accurate measurement of spectrally-relevant ambient sound is important because these levels are used by wind developers to assess wind turbine noise impacts on nearby, nonparticipating residents. Local Cape Vincent Planning Board guidelines suggest these impacts should not exceed 5 dB above the A-weighted ambient at the property lines of non-participating residents. New York State noise assessment policy states any new sound that exceed 6 dB above the A-weighted ambient should undergo a detailed assessment and the developer is required to mitigate any excessive noise. Therefore, using an inaccurate, elevated A-weighted ambient level, such as 47 dB, allows wind developers to place wind turbines much closer to non-participating residents in such a way that the A-weighted wind turbine noise level will be 52 dB (e.g., 5 dB above Hessler's elevated ambient level). A much more accurate and typical ambient level is 30 dB, which is an average of both "Hessler" and Community positions during daytime, evening and nighttime periods from this study. Using 30 dB as a typical A-weighted ambient level would then require wind developers to plan a wind farm where predicted noise at non-participating property lines would not exceed 35 dB, or 5 dB above this study's A-weighted ambient level. In summary, to adequately protect rural residents that are not participants in proposed wind farms it is essential to have accurate, unbiased assessments of ambient sounds.
In conclusion:
1. The Hessler position at a measurement site systematically and significantly yields higher sound levels than does the Community position.
2. The sound levels measured in this study show Cape Vincent to be a quiet rural area, much as depicted by the data for Hessler's position 4.
3. Measurements, such as those conducted at Hessler's position 3, are not indicative of the noise environment of typical residences in the Cape Vincent area.
4. Failure to remove insect noise in Hessler's study violated his own recommended survey and analytical techniques and substantially misrepresented typical ambient sound levels.
5. In assessing potential noise impacts from wind turbine development, rather than using 45-50 dB A-weighted levels as suggested by Hessler, a more accurate level would be 30 dB, which is the average value for the daytime, evening and nighttime L90 sound levels observed at both the "Hessler" and Community positions for sites A and B in this study. Arguably, the level should be down at 20 to 25 dB, since an A-weighted L90 of 20 dB occurs during the quietest nighttime hours, and the A-weighted L90 for the whole 9-hour night is 25 dB.
The full report can be accessed by clicking on the link here ~
.~Schomer report~
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Zoning process working in Cape Vincent~ Letter
Watertown Daily Times | Zoning process working in Cape Vincent
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2009
The town of Cape Vincent is not in the mess the wind opposition would have you believe exists. The only mess for them is that the town has not outlawed utility-scale wind development. The town zoning law does cover wind turbines. It states quite clearly that setbacks for structures greater than 30 feet be set one foot for each additional foot of height. Couple this with the environmental impact statement process now being completed by the developers in which any reason for greater setbacks would come to light and could be mitigated by greater setbacks. This is the purpose of the process, and it should be allowed to work.
The only reason the few people in Cape Vincent who are against utility-scale wind development want a wind-specific zoning law is so that wind power can essentially be outlawed as was done in the town of Lyme.
Continue reading via title link
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2009
The town of Cape Vincent is not in the mess the wind opposition would have you believe exists. The only mess for them is that the town has not outlawed utility-scale wind development. The town zoning law does cover wind turbines. It states quite clearly that setbacks for structures greater than 30 feet be set one foot for each additional foot of height. Couple this with the environmental impact statement process now being completed by the developers in which any reason for greater setbacks would come to light and could be mitigated by greater setbacks. This is the purpose of the process, and it should be allowed to work.
The only reason the few people in Cape Vincent who are against utility-scale wind development want a wind-specific zoning law is so that wind power can essentially be outlawed as was done in the town of Lyme.
Continue reading via title link
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Town supervisor at fault for wind problems
Watertown Times
opinion piece
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009
Link to article
What a mess we have in Cape Vincent. The wind developers are knocking on the door, and we do not have a wind power zoning law to control what they do once we let them in the door. It was all created by the ineptitude of our town supervisor, Tom Rienbeck.
He likes to blame the Wind Power Ethics Group for the town board's failure to pass a new law, but let's look at the facts. On Aug. 28, 2006, the town board discussed the cost of an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). By state law, an EIS would be required before the proposed amended zoning law could be passed.
opinion piece
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009
Link to article
What a mess we have in Cape Vincent. The wind developers are knocking on the door, and we do not have a wind power zoning law to control what they do once we let them in the door. It was all created by the ineptitude of our town supervisor, Tom Rienbeck.
He likes to blame the Wind Power Ethics Group for the town board's failure to pass a new law, but let's look at the facts. On Aug. 28, 2006, the town board discussed the cost of an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). By state law, an EIS would be required before the proposed amended zoning law could be passed.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Clayton panel seeks to alter wind law
FOUR-PAGE PROPOSAL: New noise limits, setbacks for turbines pushed; separating small, big wind eyed
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009
CLAYTON — The town's wind committee submitted a four-page proposal for a revised local law on wind energy production to the Clayton Town Council at its regular meeting Wednesday.
The recommendations cover a range of issues, including noise limits and setbacks for wind turbines. The committee recommended:
Continue reading via title link
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009
CLAYTON — The town's wind committee submitted a four-page proposal for a revised local law on wind energy production to the Clayton Town Council at its regular meeting Wednesday.
The recommendations cover a range of issues, including noise limits and setbacks for wind turbines. The committee recommended:
Continue reading via title link
Sunday, April 19, 2009
"New York's Thousand Islands Are Being Ruined" (Letter to Sen. Schumer on the blight of government-dependent windpower)
"New York's Thousand Islands Are Being Ruined" (Letter to Sen. Schumer on the blight of government-dependent windpower)
by Roger Donway
April 19, 2009
ALBERT H. BOWERS III
NAVAL ARCHITECT & MARITIME CONSULTANT
CHAUMONT, NY 13622
April 17, 2009
Senator Charles E. Schumer
Washington, D.C.
New York’s Thousand Islands are being Ruined
Dear Senator Schumer:
Unfortunately, this beautiful scene will not be visible in this form again due to the construction of large wind turbines, visible in the following photo, just across the river on Wolfe Island in Ontario. Similar wind turbine developments are now under consideration for Cape Vincent, Clayton and Lyme, New York as well as surrounding communities:
We need your help. We and many neighbors in surrounding communities have been concerned for the past several years about the arrival in northern New York of very aggressive developers seeking to build large industrial wind turbine facilities in our small communities. In neighboring Ontario, these large wind turbines have recently been installed on Wolfe Island, just across the river from Cape Vincent, New York. Below is a photo, taken previously, of the Tibbits Point lighthouse in Cape VIncent, marking the point where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River:
Please act to save our communities from such insensitive and destructive development. As you know, the Thousand Islands area is a prime vacation destination, due to its natural beauty. Many people from other areas summer here to enjoy the peace and tranquility that has always been a feature of the region. Many local businesses are supported principally by the summer residents and tourists, drawn by the beauty of the islands and the availability of scenic tours, fishing, and other water based recreation.
Northern New York needs the income it earns from summer residents and tourists. If we permit the area to become an industrial zone, overrun with large and noisy wind turbines, who will want to summer here? I have asked Governor Paterson to enact an immediate moratorium on wind turbine development pending an investigation, , and development of a sensible plan for the proper siting of such facilities.
Sincerely,
Albert H. Bowers III
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