Community Sound Plan
Protecting Nearby Farms and Homes Through Design, Testing, and Accountability
Sound is a manageable engineering issue when controls are designed in from the start — not added as an afterthought. This is our on-site generation plant’s sound plan, in full.
Why On-Site Generation
No Utility Power Is Available
The regional grid does not have capacity for a facility this size. The generation plant — not a connection to the regional utility — is the data center’s primary power source. That means dependable and quiet operation have to be addressed together, and the project grows in two planned steps so sound controls are designed for the full buildout from the beginning.
Phase 1
7 turbines establish the first operating phase.
Phase 2
+4 turbines bring the site to 11 total.
Full Buildout
11 turbines, each approximately 26.6 MW.
Design Targets
The Goal Is Low, Steady Sound Without an Obvious Tone
Gas turbines can produce steady machinery noise, moving-air noise, and low-frequency rumble. The design addresses all three.
Generation-Yard Property Line
≤ 40 dBA
Seek 35 dBA where practical
Nearest Homes
about ¼ mile (1,320 ft) away
≤ 35 dBA
Seek 30–32 dBA where practical · no prominent tones
These are design targets, not a claim of silence. Final limits will be confirmed through permitting and site-specific acoustic work.
How We Control It
Several Proven Controls Work Together
Enclose the Machines
Heavy acoustic enclosures contain turbine and generator noise.
Quiet the Air Paths
High-performance intake and exhaust silencers treat the loudest openings.
Control Supporting Equipment
Low-noise fans, pumps, transformers, and radiators prevent smaller sources from adding up.
Add a Second Layer Where Needed
Secondary acoustic structures close gaps the primary package can't solve alone.
Site design also matters:
- Point openings away from homes
- Use distance and terrain
- Separate noisy equipment
- Use purpose-built barriers only where modeling shows a real benefit
No single item carries the whole job. The result comes from the combined system.
The Equipment
The On-Site Equipment Is Designed as One Quiet System
Each generating unit is an approximately 26.6 MW heavy-duty industrial gas turbine-generator package, configured for continuous on-site power generation. The turbine and generator sit inside acoustically rated enclosures with sealed doors, treated penetrations, and vibration isolation. Generator, gearbox, starting system, fuel controls, lubrication, ventilation, and fire protection are supplied as an integrated package.
Noise-Control Hardware
- Intake silencer with acoustic splitter baffles
- Exhaust silencer with absorptive and reactive sections
- Acoustic dampers, louvers, and baffles at ventilation openings
- Acoustic lagging on exhaust ducts, piping, and hot surfaces
- Flexible connections, isolation mounts, and lined penetrations
- Low-noise fans, variable-speed drives, and vent silencers
- Secondary acoustic walls or structures where modeling requires them
Crystal Peaks would also build landscaped earth berms where feasible to screen views and help reduce sound when their location and height break the line of sight to neighbors.
Accountability
We Will Measure, Model, Test, and Correct
The nearest homes are about 1,320 feet away. That distance helps, but distance alone is not the plan.
01
Measure
Record existing daytime and nighttime sound.
02
Model
Include all sources, terrain, and conservative weather.
03
Contract
Put sound limits into vendor and construction requirements.
04
Test
Verify performance after Phase 1 and again after Phase 2.
05
Correct
Add or improve controls if a target is missed.
The commitment is measurable: if testing shows a problem, corrective attenuation becomes part of the work.
Good-Neighbor Commitment
Quiet Operation Is Part of the Project Design
Design the controls early
Verify performance in both phases
Fix shortcomings if testing finds them
Crystal Peaks intends to be a responsible long-term neighbor to nearby farms and homes.
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