Resource Systems Group, Inc. Environment, Energy & Acoustics

Noise Impact Assessment of a Proposed Wind Farm

Client: Ellis County Wind Project

Challenge
The Ellis County (Kansas) Wind project proposed to construct and operate up to 101 2.0-MW wind turbines. Although the project is in an area dominated by rural farmland, the project developer wanted to assess the noise impacts of the project on non-participating landowners.
   
Initiative
To assess the impacts of the project on noise levels in the surrounding area, RSG:

• Conducted background sound-level monitoring at representative areas around the site
• Performed a calibration study at a similar nearby wind farm in Spearville, Kansas, to assess the appropriateness of various sound propagation modeling parameters
• Performed sound propagation modeling

Results
RSG issued its findings in a report that was presented at public hearings.