Industrial scale wind turbines are a familiar part of the landscape in Europe, U.K. and other parts of the world. In theU.S. similar wind energy developments are just beginning operation. This will increase given the push by theFederal and State Governments to promote renewable energy sources through tax incentives and other forms ofeconomic and political support. States and local governments in the U.S. are promoting very lenient rules for howindustrial wind farms can be located in communities which are predominantly quiet and rural. Studies alreadycompleted and currently in progress describe significant health effects associated with living in the vicinity ofindustrial grade wind turbines. This paper reviews a number of sites with known health problems and the soundstudies conducted by consultants for governments, the wind turbine owner, or the local residents. The purpose isdetermine if a set of simple guidelines using dBA and dBC sound levels can serve as the ‘safe’ siting guidelines.Findings of the review and recommendations for sound limits will be presented. A discussion of how the proposedlimits would have affected the existing sites where people have demonstrated pathologies apparently related to windturbine sound will also be presented.
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