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Oregon
EQC Approves New Noise Standards for Wind Power
The
Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) approved new noise
standards yesterday for wind power projects in Oregon. At a meeting
in Hermiston, the EQC granted final approval to amend Oregon’s
existing noise rules with provisions specifically addressing wind
projects.
"Oregon’s current noise rules were written long before
commercial scale wind was contemplated in our state, and they unnecessarily
restricted the growth of Oregon’s wind industry." said
Ann English Gravatt, senior policy associate of the Renewable Northwest
Project. Wind power projects have unique siting issues that the
existing rules did not address. Project proponents found compliance
with the existing rules to be extremely cumbersome and expensive.
The existing rules resulted in the elimination of turbines or the
purchasing and vacating of residences in order to comply with the
noise rules - despite the fact that the affected landowners wanted
the turbines on their property.
With the revisions adopted yesterday, the new noise rules provide
developers and project landowners flexibility in complying with
the most stringent part of the noise rules, the ambient degradation
standard. At the same time, the rules maintain Oregon’s current
maximum permissible noise limits. "These rules are a good balance
between providing wind developers more flexibility in siting their
projects while still maintaining Oregon’s strong standards
of environment and health," stated Gravatt.
The Renewable Northwest Project and other interested parties worked
with the Oregon Department of Energy and the Governor’s office
for nearly a year on the new noise rules. "We appreciate the
diligence of the Governor’s office and the Department in addressing
this issue. These rules were a long time in coming, but we are pleased
with the result," stated Gravatt.
The Renewable Northwest Project is a regional nonprofit advocacy
organization promoting responsible development of wind, solar and
geothermal resources in the Pacific Northwest.
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