What Wind Turbines Sound Like

Industrial wind turbine noise varies with the atmosphere and terrain. Often one of the quietest places to stand near a turbine is right underneath it. It's a little like standing beneath a 400-foot-tall speaker. Turbine noise is broadcast outward and is especially troublesome at night when the air near the ground is still and the air at hub height is in motion. Standing beneath a turbine in the afternoon is the way most people who do not live in wind farms make their judgement about wind turbine noise. They stand there, listen for a minute, take pictures and drive off, go home and tell their friends that wind turbines don't make noise. People who live in wind farms know more about turbine noise than they ever wanted to, and can't just drive off. Next time you want to listen to turbines, try it at night, about 1,000 feet to a quarter-mile downwind from a turbine to get a better idea about what all the noise about turbine noise is about.