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The In Box blog is a general news and discussion site for the News Department of North Country Public Radio. In Box contact information 
Latest NCPR News
The In Box blog is a general news and discussion site for the News Department of North Country Public Radio. In Box contact information
Latest NCPR News
Every 10dB is roughly “twice as loud”.
So, 40dB is roughly “twice as loud” as 30dB.
Looks like they want to regulate this “green” alternative out of business before it even gets started.
30dB is quieter than a small Honda generator. If the towers need to be silent they will never make it.
If I had any money in Canadian wind power investments I would get it out now.
There is a very well-funded groups in Northern New York that are doing everything in their power to ensure that there will be no wind turbines. To my recollection, they weren’t pushing for 30dB.
They don’t want you to build it in the mountains, they don’t want them on the plains, they don’t want them off the coast. The groups that oppose these projects must understand that they favor an oil and gas based energy scheme. If not they are just opposed to everything?
As long as we are talking sound here, I would like to see sound laws as they relate to vehicles to be fairly enforced. What I mean by this is that trucks and motorcycles should not be allowed to make more noise than cars. It’s unfair. It is obvious discrimination against cars.
And when, oh when, is something going to be done about the noise tires make?
This is timely. HEADLINE: California’s wind farms kill over 80 eagles per year
So much for the environmentally friendly wind power.
11 coal miners have been killed in the US alone in 2011. That isn’t a terribly friendly type of power either. 48 were killed in 2010.
About 5000 people died in Chinese coal mines last year:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595235-1,00.html
It is all about cost benefit. I don’t want to see eagles die but I don’t want to see people and polar bears die either.
Don’t forget to take into account what is happening down wind of the coal powered plants that are producing the power.
While I haven’t read it, there was an extensive study of bird/bat kills at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm on Tug Hill undergone a few years ago. I believe NCPR did a story on it right around the time it was announced. I’m not certain it’s been completed or published. I’d be interested to find out more about it.
In other news, “Old Man Yells at Cloud”:
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/7400000/Old-Man-Yells-At-Cloud-the-simpsons-7414384-265-199.gif
I know that some don’t get it but silly regulations slow down the economy. In this case maybe the new “green”one.
Paul, on August 16, said: “The groups that oppose these projects must understand that they favor an oil and gas based energy scheme. If not they are just opposed to everything?” My answer: no, these groups that oppose wind power do oppose it everywhere. There are many good alternatives, such as hydro dams with fish ladders. Federal subsidies to wind companies are 60 times greater than federal subsidies to any other renewable source. That is why wind turbines are sitting atop every mountain you look at. And that is one of many reasons why so many people dislike wind power. It is not constant. When the wind is not blowing, the turbines are not producing power. So natural gas plants have to be ready to kick in every time the power decreases coming into the grid from the wind turbines. This puts the natural gas plants into a start, stop, start mode which is very inefficient for a gas plant producing power. Wind is not a good renewable source of energy. The projects are slated for a life of twenty years. All this ruination of mountain tops for twenty years of inconsistent power. It is not worth the trouble. All of northern New England has incredible streams and rivers. With today’s fish ladder technology, we could build dams that would produce all the power we need. We would have to choose streams carefully and get well engineered fish ladders, but it is not out of the question. With global warming we seem to have longer winters with deeper snow fall, making for more run off to power hydro. Think about it. It is much more economical and dependable and much less harmful to the fragile mountain tops of northern New England.
If you want to get to the true motives of either the proponents or opponents of wind power, follow the money.
People will spout all sorts of statements regarding green energy, bird kill, ice sling, etc. Follow the money and you’ll see the true story.