Front Generator Wind Turbine

Recognizing potential shortfalls of current wind turbine noise regulations, the state Department of Environmental Protection has formed an advisory group to help steer the agency's policy.

The 16-member technical advisory group includes acousticians, public health professionals, representatives of the wind industry and a neighbor to the Falmouth wind turbines. The group will consider changes to MassDEP noise regulations and policy as they relate to wind turbines.

"It is an acknowledgement that noise from wind turbines is different," DEP spokesman Edmund Coletta said.

In Massachusetts, any noise source is considered in violation of noise regulations if it is more than 10 decibels louder than ambient noise, or the background noise level of a particular area or neighborhood.

The group will meet once in August, September and October in Boston before making its recommendations in November.

Louise Barteau, a member of Windwise, which opposes the Fairhaven turbines, said the makeup of the group made her hopeful. The inclusion of Falmouth turbine neighbor Todd Drummey on the panel represents to her "a small step forward for wind turbine neighbors."

She said she was also pleased to see that Stephen Ambrose is one of a few acousticians on the panel. Ambrose's work has often been cited by Fairhaven turbine opponents in their quest to have the turbines turned off.

One of his often-quoted studies deals with his examination of inaudible sound waves known as infrasound coming from Falmouth's wind turbines.