• John Vanderkooy1 and Richard Mann2
• Department of Physics and Astronomy1 , Department of Computer Science2
• University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
• jv@uwaterloo.ca,
• mannr@uwaterloo.ca
• Date posted: 2 October, 2014

Abstract

To extract the optimum coherent infrasound signal from a wind turbine whose rotation is not precisely periodic, we use an optical telescope fitted with a photodetector to obtain reference blade passage periods, recording these together with the microphone infrasound signal. Signal processing of the quasi-periodic microphone signal is then used to obtain periodic data, which are analyzed by an appropriate length DFT to extract optimum values for the fundamental and harmonics of the coherent signal. The general procedure is similar to order domain analysis for rotating machines and is thoroughly explained and illustrated with measurements and analysis from a number of different wind farms. If several turbines are measured by a single microphone with blade passage periods obtained from several separate reference tracks, it may be possible to retrieve separate useful coherent signals from multiple turbines by appropriate processing.

read entire paper : coherent_wt_measurement_0

read entire report here : http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/committees/environment/reports/report-on-the-committees-inquiry-into-wind-energy/

“34.During the course of the inquiry the Committee has been assured by the wind industry that turbines are a safe form of technology, with instances of physical damage caused by turbines occurring only rarely. Committee members saw at first hand the level of computer-controlled monitoring relating to a wind farm which allows for remote monitoring of the operation of the machinery. However, a recent incident in West Tyrone when a wind turbine collapsed, scattering debris across the surrounding area, has given the Committee cause for concern. The Committee therefore recommends that the investigation of the incident should be concluded as swiftly as possible, both by the owners of the wind development and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, and that any lessons learned should be implemented as soon as possible.”

Tyrrell Burt Division of Heating and Ventilation, Department of Energy Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden  

Abstract Low-frequency noise, centred around a frequency of about 7 Hz, was found to occur in several office rooms investigated. Symptoms resulting from exposure to infrasound can include fatigue, headache, nausea, concentration difficulties, disorientation, seasickness, digestive disorders, cough, vision problems and dizziness, that is, symptoms typical of the sick building syndrome. Many of the occupants exhibited such symptoms. It is shown that the low-frequency component of ventilation noise is often being amplified in the tightly sealed rooms. Repeated or long-term exposure to such amplified infrasound may be triggering an allergic-type response in individuals.

read entire paper here: Indoor and Built Environment-1996-Burt-44-59

 Help Support SWEAR move forward in their legal action

Ontario families fighting massive legal bill from wind-farm companies

A demand that four Ontario families pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs to billion-dollar companies is a thinly disguised warning to anyone pondering a challenge to industrial wind farms in Ontario, the families say.

In asking the courts to set the legal bill aside, the citizens say the award would cripple them financially and undermine access to justice, even in important public-interest cases.

Court documents show the companies – K2 Wind, Armow, and St. Columban – are seeking $340,000 in costs from the Drennans, Ryans, Dixons and Kroeplins, who lost their bid to scuttle three wind-farm projects.

The families, who worry wind turbines near their homes could harm their health, had challenged the constitutionality of Ontario’s approvals process before Divisional Court. They are now hoping the province’s top court will hear the case, potentially adding more litigation costs.

Shawn Drennan said his $240,000 bill was excessive given that he was only looking to protect his rights. Continue reading Cost awards now an issue for ontario families fighting wind companies →

We “edited the title” so that we can remain neutral and non- partisan.

1NextEra

February 23, 2015

Mayor and Members of Council c/o Fran Urbshott, Administrator / Clerk 2340 Egremont Drive, RR#5 STRATHROY, ON N7G 3H6 Dear Mayor and Members of Council Congratulations on your 2015 election (or re-election) to the council for the Township of AdelaideMetcalfe. Your successful election campaigns are to be commended.

We want to take this opportunity to introduce you to NextEra Canada Development and Acquisitions, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and provide you with information, more generally, about our wind energy projects. We are currently exploring development of a wind energy project in your municipality called the Hardy Creek Wind Energy Centre.

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing forms of energy generation on the planet with approximately 4% of installed electricity generation capacity by the end of 2014 and it is growing rapidly. Here in Canada, we are setting records for new installations every year, and now also provide nearly 4% of our electricity generation capacity from wind energy. Ontario is leading the way with currently 7% of its capacity corning from wind energy. This has not only provided the Province with clean, renewable source of energy for decades to come, but has allowed us to eliminate coal as a form of energy generation, a form with serious health and environmental concerns. It is estimated that the elimination of coal generation in Ontario will save approximately $3 billion a year in healthcare costs. Equally as important, it has resulted in billions of dollars in investment, manufacturing and construction jobs, and significant economic contributions to local landowners, First Nations, and municipalities. Continue reading MORE turbines for Middlesex & Lambton by NextEra! (edited title) →

The mandate of any politically elected government is to serve and protect all the people in their jurisdiction. One of the key requirements is wise use and investment of the funds, so financial competence is necessary for good stewardship. With this in mind, I thought I would look for 12 of the most costly financial decisions/mistakes over the last 10 years. Since the Ontario Provincial Liberals have been the only party in power in the last 10 years, they can be held accountable for the outcome of these decisions.

#1 Provincial Debt – Ministry of Finance – $143.35 billion increase since 2003
The projected budget for Ontario for 2014-15 is $127.6 billion in expenses with $117 billion in revenue so with deficit financing the government will add $10.6 billion to the Ontario provincial debt. This is in addition to the existing $276 billion provincial deficit, approximately $20,500 per person.

Ontario’s net debt – the difference between total liabilities and total financial assets – has more than doubled under the Liberal leadership. In 2002 -2003 the net debt was $132.65 billion but has increased to $276 billion by 2014, so the Liberal government has added $143.35 billion to the provincial debt

The negative consequences of a large debt load include debt-servicing costs which divert funding away from other government programs; a greater vulnerability to any interest-rate increases; and a potential credit-rating downgrade which could make it more expensive to borrow. Our children and grandchildren will pay more taxes and have fewer options because of this increasing debt load.
#2. Feed in Tariff (FIT) subsidy paid to multinational industrial wind energy corporations – Ministry of Energy – $1.6 billion per year for FIT contracts for wind energy plus $2 billion per year for discounted surplus hydro, so over the 20 year contracts $72 billion

The Renewable Energy Initiative as structured by Energy Minister George Smitherman will cost the rate payers of this province $1.6 BILLION per year in Feed in Tariff (FIT) contracts for wind energy for the next 20 years. We have the highest electricity rates in North America – a fact that is driving commerce and industry out of this province. Continue reading The Dirty Dozen – 12 costly mistakes made by the provincial government in the last 10 years →