What should I do about a nearby power plant venting steam at 5 AM?

[Gravitycollapse]

This has become a very obvious issue over at least the past week. I live about a quarter mile from a natural gas power plant. At various hours of the night, they have begun purging steam which is incredibly loud. It sounds like a freight train but goes on for an hour or two at a time.

This morning I woke up to the sound of it at about 5 AM with my windows open and I am now exceedingly pissed off. I considered calling the non-emergency police hotline but wasn't sure what to do.

[Egnever]

1. Move?

[Gravitycollapse]

2. There are many reasons why that's not possible.

This power plant is right in the middle of a busy college town.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

3. if that's the case then raising a stink

to the city council of the town will surely be joined with the voices of many others...

sP

[intaglio]

4. Probably a "Power Dump"

There are 2 sorts. One is where an artificial load is put into the circuit and earthed which keeps the generators operating at the same mechanical loading; the second is where the electrical loading is reduced so the turbines need less steam to keep them spinning at the right speed. The second type requires steam venting.

Now I don't know where you live but the second type of power dump is often used if other plants are expected to go offline or if grid supply is at risk of being compromised; say by bad weather.

[Gravitycollapse]

5. I live in Tempe, Arizona. The weather is pretty constant in that we don't have any.

[ChazII]

12. Are you talking about the one

by ASU? McClintock and I forget the other cross street.

[Gravitycollapse]

13. Yes. Its technical crossroads would be McClintock and University, I suppose.

But it takes up an entire city block.

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. Trust me, there's another sort. nt

[Gravitycollapse]

16. I looked it up on Urban Dictionary and you are correct.

[badtoworse]

7. Is it a new plant?

If the plant is new and being commissioned, they are probably doing what are called steam blows. They run the boilers and vent the steam so that any solids (weld slag, dirt, etc.) get blown out of the system. The reason that is done is because the steam turbines are very sensitive to foreign objects entrained in the steam and the turbine blades would be damaged if they were impacted by the foreign objects (that is a potentially expensive repair). When the do the steam blows, they check for foreign matter being blown out and when the steam runs clean, they are done. Usually, the steam blows only last a few days, but even so. most plants only do them during daylight hours to avoid pissing off the neighbors.

If the plant is not new, you may have a legal case becuase power plants typically have noise limits at the plant's boundarys. You should be able to find out what what those limits are by checking the permitting documents. The plant likely had to file an environmental impact statement or other permitting documents that would state the expected noise emissions from the plant. Many states require that new plants get what is called a "Certificate of Public Conenience and Necessity" or "CPCN" before they are constructed. This is issued by the Public Service Commission and usually summarizes all of the conditions on which the approval is granted. Noise limits would be one of the conditions. Keep in mind though that exceptions are made for commissioning the plant, so if they're doing steam blows on a new plant, they're likely within their permit.

You'll need to do some research.

[Gravitycollapse]

8. No, the plant's pretty old. They're actually purging steam as I type this.

Which doesn't bother me at 5 PM. But at 5 AM, we've got a problem.

I can hear the noise fluctuating as if they are increasing and decreasing the emission.

I'll have to look into it. It's called Ocotillo Power Plant and its operated by APS.

[Oilwellian]

9. Our state has a commission that oversees power plants

Perhaps you can find out if your state does as well and file a complaint with them, or at least find out from them which govt entity regulates these plants.

[Gravitycollapse]

11. I found the relevant city ordinances on sound and they do address power plants.

http://www.tempe.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8668

The following uses and activities shall be exempt from noise level regulations:

(9)Power plant equipment during normal operation provided that no plant equipment
may cause the noise level measured inside any sleeping or living room inside any
residential dwelling unit to exceed forty-five (45) dB(A) between the hours of 10:00
p.m. and 7:00 a.m., nor fifty-five (55) dB(A) between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and
10:00 p.m.

I'll have to call the city council.

[Oilwellian]

14. Good sleuthing :D

I hope they help alleviate your problem.

[ChazII]

21. Why do city councils

allow building of residential dwellings so close? The plant was there before most of the businesses. Nonetheless, I hope the council listens to you.

I have lived in this area since 1962 and attended ASU games when I was in high school as well as earning my BA in 1980.

[William769]

10. the power of prayer.

[Xithras]

15. Three things

1) Call the power plant and find out if it's a temporary issue, or whether this is a permanent thing. They genuinely may not know how far the sound is carrying. Tell them you would like them to perform it at a different time and gauge their response.

2) If they state that this is a permanent situation, send them a formal letter, signed by as many neighbors as possible, asking them to reschedule this "purging" until later in the morning when it will be less disruptive to neighbors. CC the letter to your local city council, mayor, county commissioners, or whichever elected local reps have authority over its neighborhood. Send CC's to the power companies corporate offices as well. And make sure you're sending MAIL. Email is ineffective for this sort of thing.

3) If those do not work, find out what the plants licensing requirements are. If there is a periodic relicensing, file a complaint with the licensing commission and try to have a noise abatement requirement added to their license when it comes up again.

You should also find out if your state has any regulatory agencies overseeing power plants, and find out if they can help you.

[Yo_Mama]

18. It doesn't seem like they can change the timing

This is done when the power plant can't be ramped down but is compensating for periods of low load by "dumping" power.

The city council would be the best bet.

[Spider Jerusalem]

17. Close your windows, or move. (n/t)

[former9thward]

19. I live on McClintock not very far from that plant.

The noise doesn't bother me but I get used to stuff like that. You could buy a dosimeter and take some sound measurements when they are purging steam. They are pretty easy to use. The power company would argue that not all sound, even at 5am, is coming from them. And that would be true. But at least you would have some sound evidence if you talk to the city. Generally the biggest noise issues that the city gets is aircraft coming to Sky Harbor.

[A HERETIC I AM]

20. Tell them not to.

Then just plug your ears and wait for the big explosion.

[XemaSab]

22. Their operating agreement should be available

[Dash87]

23. Get a gigantic plug and cap that sucker.