Will the TrAIL line produce audible noise?
We’ve designed the new line to be substantially quieter than existing lines and it is unlikely to be heard over typical background sounds. Crackles may be audible within a few hundred feet of the transmission line, during certain weather conditions, diminishing as you move further from the line. Sound intensity is measured in decibels. Human speech equates to 60 decibels, with background noise levels ranging from 30 to 40 decibels. Birdcalls, neighborhood activity and traffic can produce audible noise levels between 50 and 60 decibels. Noise levels associated with TrAIL are calculated from the edge of the 200-foot right-of-way and would measure less than 42 decibels in fair weather and below 52 decibels in wet weather. A modern triple-bundle conductor will be used for the line, reducing noise levels during poor weather by about half as compared to existing high-voltage transmission lines. All TrAIL-related decibel values are expected to fall below the 55-decibel annual average day-nigh
