| FAQ: ABOUT WIND
Are wind turbines noisy?
No, not anymore. Technological progress in turbine design has made modern, commercial wind turbines much quieter than older models. From I-40 (approximately 3,500 ft from the closest turbines), even if there were no cars or truck driving by, the turbines will not be audible over the ambient sound of the wind. Today's turbines are designed for quiet operation relative to other industrial noises such as road traffic, trains and aircraft. Studies indicate that an operating wind farm at a distance of 750 to 1,000 feet is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator.
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Are wind turbines reliable?
Yes, enormous progress made in the efficiency and reliability of commercial wind turbines. Modern wind turbines now have an availability factor higher than any other conventional form of generation. Availability factor is a measurement of how often a power plant is ready and capable of functioning. Because wind plants are modular and turbines are constantly maintained, one at a time, the plants are ready to generate over 95% of the time. In addition, there is little chance that power from the whole wind farm will go out as sometimes happens when there is a mechanical problem at a large coal, gas, or nuclear plant.
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