Lazy Lake residents in shock about substation noise

More than a hundred residents of the Lazy Lake community, Hunters Mill Estates and owners of single homes nearby are asking Delmarva Power to dismantle an electric transmission substation they say is causing a noisy hum.

Residents said the hum is not only disturbing but also a possible health threat.

Lazy Lake is just off Route 9 and Hudson Road. Hunters Mill Estates is adjacent to Route 9. The developments contain about 275 homes. Homeowners and Delmarva Power officials met Saturday, Sept. 18.

Debi Smedley, a Lazy Lake homeowner, was a little surprised by the number of people who showed up in her yard after she invited them to tell Delmarva Power officials about their dislike of the Coolsprings 230kV substation that facilitates transmission of electricity from the Indian River power plant to Milford.

Smedley, in a Sept. 13 letter to Vance Phillips, Sussex County Council president, wrote Delmarva Power told council, “The operation and maintenance of a substation will have no adverse or detrimental impact on neighboring areas.”

But Smedley and her neighbors said that isn’t true.

“We never get a break from the constant and overwhelming hum that is coming from the facility. It is worse at night, and we have not been able to leave our windows open since the operation started on July 4,” Smedley wrote.

Jim Smith, Delmarva Power senior public affairs manager, told those gathered at Smedley’s home that the company had received calls about substation hum since the day it was energized. “All substations produce some element of sound. We try to be mindful of that,” Smith told the group.

Asked who’s getting the electricity and benefiting from the substation, Smith said, “All of us.”

He said the substation helps increase Delmarva Power’s overall system reliability.

Matt Likovich, Delmarva Power’s community and communications coordinator, said this summer, when Delmarva Power’s system was stressed during periods of intense heat and heavy air-conditioner use, it was substations such as the one at Coolsprings that made continued electric service possible.

Smith said Delmarva Power is working on two plans to reduce hum – a quick fix and a permanent solution. He said in the next couple weeks the company would install sound-absorbing blankets on the 7-foot fence surrounding the substation.

Smith said the blankets would reduce hum, which comes from the substation’s transformers, until a permanent concrete wall could be built around the facility.

He said at the fence line, hum has been measured at 54 decibels, four decibels higher than the state’s 50-decibel maximum.

He said as a permanent solution, the company is completing design of a wall made of special sound-absorbing concrete that would surround the substation. Smith said wall construction would cost about $500,000 and could start later this fall.

Asked if the wall would be effective and whether Delmarva Power has any others like it, Smith said it would be effective, but it would not eliminate all noise. He said there are others like it, but not in this area.

Smith said only five people attended a meeting at Mariner Middle School to review substation plans and discuss the project before it was built, despite 300 letters that were mailed to homeowners in the area inviting them to come.

A scattered cacophony of voices from the crowd told Smith they never received the letter.

“I feel like the wool has been pulled over our eyes. Because we’re seniors doesn’t mean people can come in and walk on us. We do not want the substation here,” a woman shouted angrily.

Residents said they’re concerned about how electromagnetic fields, commonly called EMFs, from the substation could affect health.

EMFs are generated by things such as power lines, microwave towers, television and computer screens, fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, cell phones and hundreds of other electrical devices. Many said since the substation has been in use, they no longer see squirrels and birds.

Rosanna Zimmer said her hair has been falling out, her dogs no longer want to go outdoors and her neighbors have been keeping their young child inside.

Likovich said studies have found no link between EMFs and adverse health effects. “EMF is all around us,” Likovich said.

“You have stolen our peace. We are stinkin’ angry,’ yelled Peter Roomet, a Lazy Lake homeowner. Roomet said he used to enjoy taking an evening walk through the community but hum from the substation has ruined that quiet time. “You want instant solutions. That’s not going to happen. Give us a chance to see if this works,” Likovich said.

Delmarva Power officials said they would make an effort to provide homeowners with email progress updates every couple of weeks.