Lee Co Panel Endorses Sound Studies, Requires Compliance With State Regs

A panel of the Lee County Board endorsed a proposal this week to require wind developers to conduct sound studies before and after a wind project is built, but stopped short of setting noise requirements more restrictive than those set in state noise regulations. The move is commendable because it shows that the Board is requiring wind developers to prove that their sound impacts are within reasonable limits, but does not single-out wind energy with sound requirements that no other industry or land use has to follow.

From an article from Sauk Valley Media:

The proposed rules call for wind turbines to comply with Illinois Pollution Control Board noise regulations, although some argued that those rules are so old they didn’t take into account wind farms.

The proposed Lee County rules include a complaint procedure that would involve the Zoning Board.

The sound studies would be performed by third-party experts. No such assessments are required now.

Zoning Board member Tom Fassler argued for including a noise limit of 5 decibels above background sound – a number suggested by others.

“If you don’t have a number, you don’t have anything legal to stand on,” he said.

Member Mike Pratt said he feared that including a number would hurt residents because it would reduce the board’s flexibility.

“I think we have more power without a number,” he said.

The Zoning Board spent its 2-hour meeting last week entirely on the issue of noise regulations for wind farms. At the start of Thursday’s session, Zoning Administrator Chris Henkel read aloud proposed rules.[...]

But Jim Griffin, an attorney for Mainstream, contended setting noise rules for one industry was discriminatory. He also said the state Pollution Control Board regulations were adequate to handle noise pollution.

The Zoning Board voted 4-1 for the proposed rules. Fassler dissented.