More sound in the Cape

The town Planning Board will listen to a presentation by St. Lawrence Wind Farm’s consultants on its noise analysis, Hessler Associates Inc., Haymarket, Va.

The presentation will take place after its regular meeting at 7 p.m. April 14 at the Cape Vincent Recreation Park, James Street.

“We recognize potential impacts from sound emitted from the proposed project have been a primary concern of the Planning Board and the community,” wrote project manager Peter E. Zedick in a Feb. 25 letter requesting the presentation. “Assessing sound impacts from wind turbines can be a difficult task given some variability of opinion.”

Members of the Town Council, Planning Board and Wind Committee agreed on Feb. 6 that a zoning law should allow turbines to raise the ambient noise level by 8 decibels. The perception-based standard of 6 decibels above ambient has been supported by local groups who want protective zoning law and some outside experts.

Hessler conducted the noise study for the supplemental draft environmental impact statement for Acciona’s 54-turbine project. 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.

The Wind Power Ethics Group paid for a separate study of noise in the area, done by Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., Champaign, Ill. Mr. Schomer found the noise levels averaged at 30 decibels, with the quietest nighttime hours at 20 decibels and the entire night at 25 decibels.