Myths about Noise, Health, & Safety
Wind turbines are machines that spin in the wind and generate electricity atop tall towers. As such, the blades, transmission, and generator emit noise when the turbine is operating. Because modern wind turbines are relatively new on the landscape, a veritable cottage industry has arisen attributing a panoply of ills to wind turbines–even when they are not operating. Consequently, there are numerous studies on the health effects of the noise from wind turbines. This section includes links to these studies and to reports on the general environmental impacts and benefits of wind energy.
Myth: Turbines are a health hazard
By
Department For Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
In 25 years of wind generation, with 68,000 turbines now worldwide, there are no significant reports of health issues. This includes Denmark, whose turbine density is 30 times that of the UK.
The Measurement of Low Frequency Noise at Three UK Wind Farms
By
Hayes Mckenzie
The Measurement of Low Frequency Noise at Three UK Wind Farms–Of the 126 wind farms operating in the UK, five have been reported low frequency noise problems. Therefore, such complaints are the exception rather than a general problem which exists for all wind farms.
Design as if People Matter: Aesthetic Guidelines for the Wind Industry
By
Paul Gipe
Note: The graphics to this article were lost when my original web site crashed in the fall of 2022. For …
Public Safety and Setbacks
By
Paul Gipe
Excerpted from Wind Energy Comes of Age by Paul Gipe, John Wiley & Sons, Inc New York (1995), …
