Economic benefit

A striking result in this project is that people who economically benefit from wind energy, are not annoyed by wind turbine sound.

Of all the respondents, 14% gain economically from the wind turbines, either by owning one themselves or by owning shares in wind parks. Respondents gaining from wind energy hear the wind turbine sound at the same level as non benefiting respondents, however, it just doesn't annoy them.

An obvious explanation is that wind turbine noise gets the positive association of a reward. But literature also shows that people who are in control over their situation are less likely to be annoyed. When you know you can turn off a wind turbine, you will less likely be annoyed by it.