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Neighbors say noise from wind turbine has made them miserable

SCITUATE, Mass. — Residents in Scituate,  Massachusetts, who live near a wind turbine claim it's ruining the quality of their lives.

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Many say the wind turbine is causing nausea, dizziness, ringing in ears and sleep deprivation and they want it shut down for good.

Dave Dardi has living in Scituate for 40 years. He loves the town, but can't wait to spend his winter in Florida so he can finally get a good night’s sleep. Dardi's house is about 3,200 feet from the power-generating turbine

"....sometimes 1, 2 in the morning I wake up. Woosh, woosh," said Dardi. "I'll have a headache and I'll feel the pressure from this infra sound they talk about, 'woosh, woosh.'"

He claims the noise coming from the turbine, which neighbors describe as a jet engine, is causing he and others nearby all sorts of health issues.

"That will last for several hours morning and night. It's quite an extraordinary thing to live through in your home," said Dardi.

The 400-foot turbine was installed five years ago and produces energy, which goes into the power grid. When it was built in 2012, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center claimed the turbine would save Scituate about $200,000 a year on its electric bill.

During the last two summers, the town has powered off the turbine between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. when the wind was coming from the southwest less than 10 mph, but neighbors say it's not enough.

About 25 neighbors have registered noise and nuisance complaints with the town's board of health.

During the last two summers, the town has powered off the turbine between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. when the wind was coming from the southwest at less than 10 mph, but neighbors say it’s not enough.

"It's like someone put an energy plant, constructed it near your house, there'd be something done about the noise at night, but this, they just constructed it and let it run all night long," said neighbor Joann Bianchini. "You can't sleep - it wakes you up and you can't get back to sleep and then you have anxiety and apprehension (that) it's going to happen again."

Bianchini said she moved out of her master bedroom and to a back bedroom, away from the turbine.

Boston 25 News reached out to the acting town administrator, the board of selectmen and the town's public health department.

Only one member of the board responded late on Friday afternoon, saying they are concerned about the neighbor's health and the town will be conducting more noise-level studies.