Cell Phone, Radio & Television Interference

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) readily admits on their website that wind turbines can interfere with television, radio and cell phone signals, particularly when the turbines are located between the transmitter and receiver:

“Large wind turbines, such as those typically installed at wind farms, can interfere with radio or TV signals if a turbine is in the "line of sight" between a receiver and the signal source, but this problem can usually be easily dealt with improving the receiver's antenna or installing relays to transmit the signal around the wind farm. Use of satellite or cable television is also an option.”

Television Interference

With the FCC's recent switch to digital signals, TV reception may not be a big issue in our part of Maine. Many people have changed over to satellite dishes. Those who still use antennas might experience signal intereference called 'ghosting'. Ghosting results when TV signals are interrupted and deflected by the wind turbines rotating blades. In effect, the TV receiver "sees" more than one version of the TV signal, displaying both.

The AWEA suggests that cable or satellite would be reasonable alternative but, in some locations, neither of these is possible because the area is not serviced by cable and some of us have line of site issues with satellite. Even so, why should it fall on us to pay an additional $30 or more per month to maintain our current quality of life? The wind developer causes the problem... the wind developer should fix the problem!

Interestingly, in 2008 wind developer Forward Energy LLC offered to pay for the solution for residents of Brownsville, WI. The company agreed to pay for basic cable or satellite TV so long as the resident signed a very one-sided agreement. The agreement required residents to give up future rights to complain, prohoibited them from bad-mouthing the company and the project, required them to allow company representatives in their homes to monitor the TV, declared that the developer and the wind farm are not the cause of the reception problem, and prohibited them from ever disclosing the contents of the agreement. Here's a PDF copy of the agreement).


Cellular Phone Interference

The issue of cell phone interference presents a potential safety hazard. Especially in more remote areas, people have grown to rely on their cell phones for safety. We use our cell phones to call tow trucks, emergency crews or just to keep in touch with our families. Many of us already live in fringe areas for cell phone reception. If there should be a turbine between an individual's location and the cell tower cell phone service would be obliterated. This is one reason why you're not likely to see a wind turbine tower doing double-duty as a cell tower.

The solution that the AWEA suggests for this problem is that cell phone providers install additional towers, relays and repeaters so their signals are routed around the turbines. Of course this would cost the cell providers money and the cost would appear on our cell phone bills.

Given their mammoth size, it's not surprising that wind turbines cause reception problems. Although they initially denied that the problem existed, the evidence is so overwhelming (and verifiable) that today the wind industry acknowledges this. But all the suggestions and solutions put forth by the American Wind Energy Association shift the costs associated with solving the problem away from the developers and onto the victims. Why should an industry be allowed to shift some of their costs of doing business to others?


Radio Interference

It is a known fact that the 100 to 150 foot rotating blades of wind generators do create unacceptable interference with microwave link radio equipment often used in communications systems. Beyond being an issue of inconvenience, this radio interference poses a public safety hazard. Firefighters, rescue teams, EMTs are dispatched using radios and coordinate their efrforts via radio. It is very possible that in the event of a fire call, the interference from the turbines could limit or eliminate critical communication between firefighters. Public safety should be first and foremost and the cost of the solution should not fall upon the taxpayers!