HGC Engineering has been working to investigate the impact of noise generated by wind farms for several years. We are familiar with the operational characteristics of wind turbines and the accompanying international standards used for their regulation.

Brian Howe, a senior partner has recently been instrumental in developing Best Practices Guidelines for the Canadian Wind Energy Association for use in the development of Wind Energy projects.

Our experience in this area includes:

• Preparation of reports in support of applications for Certificates of Approval from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for several wind farms in Ontario.
• Noise assessments for wind farms in Pennsylvania, USA, Nova Scotia, and many sites in Ontario.
• Formulating official plan policies related to the environmental impact by wind farms for municipalities.
• Preparation of an environmental study for Pubnico Point Wind Farm in Nova Scotia involving audible noise and infrasonic impact.
• Peer reviewing environmental noise studies prepared by developers.

As Canada’s largest dedicated acoustical consulting engineering company, HGC Engineering has the resources, specific experience and interest needed to mitigate environmental noise issues related to wind farms.