Australian Noise Nuisance Court Defeat Panicking Renewable Energy Investors, by Eric Worrall

 Source:

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/03/26/its-a-disaster-aussie-noise-nuisance-court-defeat-panicking-renewable-energy-investors/

"According to the ABC (TV), the recent court ruling that upheld a complaint by residents that wind turbines are a noise nuisance has sent “ripples of uncertainty” throughout the entire Renewable Energy industry.

    Alinta says court wind farm ruling will have ‘dramatic’ and chilling effect on renewable energy investment

    One of Australia’s biggest renewable energy investors says a court’s decision to uphold complaints against a Victorian wind farm could have “dramatic” and chilling effects on the country’s transition away from fossil fuels.  

    Alinta boss Jeff Dimery, whose company is one of Australia’s biggest private energy providers, said the ruling by Victoria’s Supreme Court would be a “shock” to companies planning to invest billions of dollars in new wind farms.

    In its decision, the court backed claims brought against the 106MW Bald Hills wind farm in the south east of the state by neighbours who argued they were unable to sleep because of noise from the project.

    Justice Melinda Richards ordered the project’s operators to switch off parts of the wind farm at night until the noise levels could be reduced to an acceptable level.

    She also told the operators to pay aggrieved neighbours more than a quarter of a million dollars in costs and damages.

    Mr Dimery said the decision would send “ripples” of doubt through the renewable energy industry across the country given the potential precedent it sets for other wind farms.

    He said the longer-term implications were potentially significant, noting the ruling could scare away developers by making wind farms harder to build and less financially attractive.

    “It’s a disaster,” Mr Dimery said.

    “This is a pretty dramatic outcome, I have to say.

    “This court decision certainly changes the risk appetite for investors.

    “I think there’ll be some fairly serious ramifications off the back of this.”

    Read more:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-25/chill-winds-for-renewable-sector/100940308

WUWT wrote about the Bald Hills Wind Farm case in 2021, but at the time it looked like residents had lost. So I’m personally pleased to report that this story appears to have had a happy ending.

WUWT has frequently written about the environmental impact of wind turbines, including claims of ill health effects from wind turbine infrasound.

There have even been claims wind turbine noise leads to whales beaching, because it messes up their navigation sense.

But cases in which plaintiffs obtain legal relief because of wind turbine noise are rare.

Let us hope this court case win which upholds the right of residents to not have their sleep disrupted by “green energy” mechanical monstrosities is the first of many."