A Free-Market Energy Blog

Nature: Wind Turbine Noise Issues

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 14, 2021

Ed. Note: The health effects of industrial wind on local residents continues to attract mainstream research despite severe political incorrectness. It’s common sense: huge industrial machines moving in the open air have negative effects. For other posts at MasterResource on this subject, see here. This post complements yesterday’s on the nighttime amplification of noise.

“Wind turbines generate low-frequency noise (LFN, 20–200 Hz)…. [which causes] headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, fatigue, dizziness, tinnitus, aural pain sleep disturbances, and annoyance. Clinically, exposure to LFN from wind turbines may cause increased risk of epilepsy, cardiovascular effects, and coronary artery disease.”

“In order to reduce LFN transport from outdoors to indoors, we recommend that the windows should be kept closed, especially at nighttime because LFN is most noticeable at night. In addition, … residences in close proximity to wind turbines should be equipped with airtight windows.”

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Wind Noise: A Continuing Issue (night amplification)

By Sherri Lange -- September 13, 2021

WIND TURBINE “NOISE,” (GRINDING, AND THUMPING AND VIBRATION ASIDE), SWOOSH AND/OR AMPLITUDE MODULATION IS ACCELERATED BY UP TO FIVE TIMES AT NIGHT; FLINDERS UNIVERSITY FINDS

LIKELY MORE ANNOYING THAN OTHER SOURCES OF NOISE AT THE SAME LEVEL, STUDY FINDS.

Australia has commissioned a five-year study of the effect of noise from industrial wind turbines on the local residents. The rare investigation can only be bad news for the PR-propped industry, given the image of turbines being noiseless and in a field of green (mute and photoshopping at work).

In RENEW ECONOMY, Sophie Vorrath reported the latest:

New federally funded research investigating the association of wind farm noise with adverse effects on humans has found that the “swoosh” sound made by spinning turbine blades was likely to be more noticeable – and more annoying – to nearby residents during the night than during the day.

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Nuclear Power: A Free Market View

By Jane Shaw Stroup -- September 9, 2021

Ed. Note: This interview with Robert L. Bradley Jr. by Jane Shaw Stroup appeared earlier this week at the Liberty and Ecology website of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research. Comments are welcomed, including new questions to clarify the role of nuclear power in a free economy.

Q1. What role should nuclear power have in the years ahead?

A. “Let the market decide” is the straightforward classical-liberal, free-market answer. This means government neutrality in terms of not subsidizing or penalizing one energy technology versus another to determine what, when, where.

The decision to build new capacity, or the decision to operate-versus-retire, should be based on stand-alone economics, without government favor or penalty.

Q2. Under this standard, what is the future of nuclear in the energy mix as far as new capacity?

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Another COP26 Postponment? (fossil fuels winning anyway)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 8, 2021
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Energy and Environmental Review: September 7, 2021

By -- September 7, 2021
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Happy Labor-Saving Day (as in modern energy)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 6, 2021
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Walzel Strikes for Climate Realism (Houston Chronicle interview fair, telling)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 2, 2021
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The Great Kemper County Caper (Southern Company rides again)

By Jim Clarkson -- September 1, 2021
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On the History of Resource Thought (Vettese dissertation comments)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- August 31, 2021
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Martis in the Solar and Wind Fight: The Latest

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- August 30, 2021
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