Monthly Archives: January 2012
OFA poll backs up OFA’s call for a moratorium on new wind projects
Following the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s call for a moratorium on new wind projects pending resolution of a number of major issues, the OFA opened a poll on its website to gauge reaction.
The poll was open to OFA members and non-members alike for 9 or 10 days, during which time more than 1700 votes were recorded.
The result: 70% in favour of a moratorium, 30% opposed.
As reported earlier, there is another poll asking about wind turbines for PEC at http://www.countylive.ca.
Opportunity to vote on wind turbines in PEC
Here’s your chance to VOTE on industrial wind development in the County.
A local news website is conducting a poll on the question “Wind Turbines in Prince Edward County?” There are three choices:
- NO, wind turbines should NOT be part of PEC
- MAYBE, with research on health, location and long-term issues.
- YES, wind turbines should BE part of PEC.
Please cast your vote at http://www.countylive.ca. The poll is located on the right-hand side of the webpage.
Note: Only one vote is allowed per Internet connection. Please encourage friends and neighbours to vote as well.
The pursuit of clean energy: ordinary people become ‘collateral damage’
We reccommend reading a very enlightening essay accessible at http://tinyurl.com/7ymof69. When reading it, substitute “Ontario” for “Australia” and you’ll get an EXACT picture of what is happening in Ontario regarding wind energy.
The author, Maurice Newman, is former chairman of Deutsche Bank, the Australian Securities Exchange and, most recently, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. One of the few people at the top of the corporate food chain worldwide who tells the truth about wind energy.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture calls on government to suspend wind turbine development in Ontario
The following news release is posted at http://www.ofa.on.ca/media/news/OFA-calls-government-suspend-wind-turbine-development-in-Ontario .
Guelph, ON [January 20, 2012] – Escalating concerns about industrial wind turbines have prompted the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) to urge the province of Ontario to suspend further development until farm families and rural residents are assured that their interests are adequately protected. The OFA unveiled its strong stance in a new position statement on industrial wind turbines, released today, that will be presented to government later this month.
Plan to attend MPP Todd Smith’s Feb 2 town hall on Gilead’s Ostrander Point wind project
Here is a news release by MPP Todd Smith announcing a town hall meeting in Picton on Thu Feb 2, 6 pm to consult with the public on Gilead Power’s Ostrander Point project.
It is extremely important for those with views on this project to attend the meeting to attend the meeting. Please invite your spouse, friends and neighbours to accompany you.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 11, 2012
( BELLEVILLE ) - Prince Edward-Hastings MPP Todd Smith has decided to put the ‘public’ back in the public consultation process regarding the proposed wind factory on Prince Edward County’s south shore. Smith is hosting a town hall at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Picton on February 2nd at 6pm. Over the last week, Smith’s office has been working with different stakeholders in Prince Edward County including environmental groups and groups of concerned citizens to set up the event.
Important literature review on wind turbines and health
Independent (and uncompensated) researchers Barbara Frey and Peter Hadden have just published a 170-page literature review that makes a compelling case for considering wind turbines placed too near homes as both a major public health issue and a human rights issue.
Unlike other literature reviews on this topic, this study includes references to sufferers’ reports of adverse health effects. Although it is focused on the U.K., it cites more than 300 references worldwide, including a number from Ontario.
Information referenced in the study indicates that low frequency sounds from wind turbines can be detected up to 10 km away. For turbines that are more than 100 m tall to blade tip (i.e. all Ontario turbines), the researchers recommend a setback of 3 km.
While it will be very difficult for wind energy developers and the Ontario government to ignore or discredit this study, they will undoubtedly make the attempt. So it will be up to the courts to evaluate its information, conclusions and recommendations.
The study, Wind turbines and proximity to homes: the impact of wind turbine noise on health is lengthy, but not too technical. It is available at http://docs.wind-watch.org/Frey_Hadden_WT_noise_health_01Jan2012.pdf .
