Project Number:

3248

Evergreen Solar Panel Facility

SERVICE:

Noise Compliance Assistance

DESCRIPTION:

When Tech Environmental became the technical reviewer for the Devens Enterprise Commission there was an existing facility that greatly exceeded the sound output proposed in its original permit application. Tech was asked to take over the compliance discussion and to advise the commission and legal council on the approach the facility proposed to resolve the exceedances. Tech analyzed thousands of hours of sound data from multiple sound meters. The initial fix to reduce the sound was determined to be sufficient for most of the time, but not all of the time. Tech convinced the facility that the best approach was not to try continue to chip away at the concern so as to control right to the edge of compliance, but instead to control to a level that was very easy to determine. Unfortunately, once a neighbor has been sensitized this is often the only realist approach. The facility installed a new sound attenuation wall. Once this sound attenuation wall was installed the facility easily met the Industrial Performance Standards, the DEC board no longer had to deal with incremental changes in sound attenuation on their monthly agenda, and the surrounding neighborhood was pleased.

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Key Points

  • Tech Environmental became the technical reviewer for the Devens Enterprise Commission. Tech worked with the commission and legal council on an approach for a facility exceeding the sound output in its original permit application.
  • A sound attenuation wall was installed, the facility then met the Industrial Performance Standards, and the surrounding neighborhood was satisfied.