Learning Expedition – Wolfe Island, Ontario
VISUAL AND SOUND IMPACTS FROM THE WOLFE ISLAND WIND
PROJECT ON RESIDENTS OF TIBBETTS POINT ROAD, CAPE
VINCENT, NY
Clifford P.Schneider1
PO Box 165
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
SUMMARY
This report outlines the acoustic and visual impacts of the Wolfe Island Wind Project on
residents 2 miles (3.2 km) across the St. Lawrence River along the Tibbetts Point Road, Cape
Vincent. Sound levels measured in January-February 2010, when the wind farm was operating,
were 3 to 4 dBA greater than background sound levels measured in 2008, prior to construction of
the wind farm. A mail-questionnaire was sent to 43 residents of the Tibbetts Point Road to assess
their reaction to noise and visual impacts from the Wolfe Island Wind Project. Twenty-seven
questionnaires were returned for a 63% response rate. Most respondents did not notice wind turbine
noise, but at times, 38% were annoyed by the wind turbine sound. For the level of sound increase
over background levels, respondents were more annoyed than New York DEC noise policy predicted.
Those respondents that heard the turbines described the noise as a low frequency/low pitched sound
that is louder on summer evenings when winds were weak or non-existent. This supports other
research linking annoyance with wind turbine noise and atmospheric stability.
Far more respondents (88%) were annoyed by the change in landscape view than with
noise. Ninety-two percent said these changes were for the worst and the blinking lights at night were
especially disturbing; some comparing them with a commercial airport. Policy makers should know
that visual and acoustic impacts for non-participating, waterfront residents are likely more negative
than they may have initially thought. Furthermore, current NYSDEC noise guidelines may not
adequately predict human response to wind turbine sound levels. (Note respondent comments in
Appendix A)
Commercial wind developers began offering lease agreements to land owners in
Cape Vincent beginning around 2004. Formal application for two commercial wind project
proposals were submitted to town authorities beginning in 2006. The initial projects
proposed nearly 250, four-hundred foot (122m) wind turbines, which would have covered
nearly the entire geographic footprint of the town. Opposition to these projects has been
1Retired Lake Ontario Unit Leader, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Clifford P. Schneider
widespread and has focused on visual and noise impacts, as well as potential conflicts of
interest for a number of town elected and appointed officials.
In 2009, operations began for the Wolfe Island Wind Project located directly across
the St. Lawrence River from Cape Vincent (Figure 1). The project includes 86, 2.3 MW
wind turbines for a rated capacity of nearly 200 MW. The wind project is located on the
western end of Wolfe Island and is closest, and has greatest visual impact, to Cape Vincent residents living along Tibbetts Point Road (Figure 1). The closest wind turbine is
approximately 1.9 (3.1 km) miles away.
Cape Vincent is a community that has been struggling to find a way to integrate the
proposed commercial electric power production complex into its rural landscape and
tourism-based local economy. To say it has not been easy is to understate the extent of the
problem. The Wolfe Island Wind Project probably did more to help Cape Vincent and
Jefferson County, NY residents understand the potential visual impacts than any of the
visual simulation reports that were submitted with the environmental impact statements for
the two project proposals in Cape Vincent. Although wind turbine noise impacts were
expected to be minimal to non-existent, a number of residents were able to hear the nearest
wind turbine nearly 1.9 miles (3.1 km) away.
Mr. Schneider Presented his report at: Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources April 29,2010 Learning Expedition – Wolfe Island, Ontario.
To read the complete 27 page report link here
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