Do wind turbines harm animals?

There have been many anecdotal reports suggesting that wind turbines cause harm to animals — livestock, non-flying wildlife and pets — in addition to birds and bats and (oh yeah) people.  As there are no scientific studies on this topic, there is virtually no consideration of potential adverse effects on these animals that don’t know about required setback distances.

Here is a good article that references many of these reports and gives an idea of the potential extent of the problem.  See http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/9615 .

Misery in South Marysburgh and Athol c. 2014

[Misery is a strong word.  Read through this article and decide for yourself if it's appropriate.]

If WPD’s White Pines project goes ahead, what is the future for many families in South Marysburgh and eastern Athol Wards of Prince Edward County, starting in 2014?  No crystal ball is needed.  The future is revealed in the testimonies of more than 100 Ontario families now suffering adverse effects from industrial wind turbines and associated infrastructure.

The following excerpts from 22 testimonies describe serious medical symptoms experienced by some Ontario residents living in the vicinity of industrial wind turbines.  Almost all of the reports are from southwestern Ontario, but the first is from nearby Wolfe Island.

These families are not comfortable .. not healthy .. not safe in their own homes.  And many are trapped there for financial reasons, due to an inabilty to sell out at a reasonable price — in some cases, at any price.

The primary medical risk zone (called the Turbine Risk Zone),  is a 2-km circle around each industrial wind turbine (see the statement by the Society for Wind Vigilance at http://wp.me/p1M8CZ-hE ).  The combined footprint of all Turbine Risk Zones from WPD turbines in South Marysburgh and eastern Athol Ward is shown on the map at  http://tinyurl.com/843ure4. Within this area, it is conservatively estimated that 20% to 40% of people will experience medical symptoms, ranging from mild to severe to home abandonment.

This post is very long, but even a quick read will give you an idea of what’s in store for many South County families starting in 2014, if the WPD project is built.  We need to make sure that this doesn’t happen.

Testimonies from 22 families

(Testimony T01) Eastern Ontario, Concerned Parents

Where do I start… my family and I feel as though we’ve been lied to by the wind company that has built in our community [community name] We were told that these things were whisper quiet THEY’RE NOT !!! – I have a ** year old child that has never had a headache in their life, now (after the towers came online) has a headache every week or two. My spouse has migraines, or very severe headaches several times a week, I am now taking sleeping pills to get to sleep.  We would sell and move in a second, but there is no way anyone would want to purchase our property, we have about 5-7, 2.3 meg towers within a mile of our home.

But here is another problem, and I suspect there are several people in our position. We feel that if we complain there would be repercussions for our family, we have children in school. I believe that if we register a complaint with the company, the township, or the MPP that everyone in the community would know about it the next day after all meeting at the local restaurant for coffee the next morning. I wish that we could find more like minded people in our community, but we’re reluctant to ask around. Where does someone start, to try and make this right.

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 .

Acousticians confirm wind turbine syndrome due to infrasound

Here is a new and compelling study of adverse effects of infrasound and low frequency noise emissions on human physiology by two U.S. acousticians.  Their study results were reinforced by the fact that they experienced ill effects within minutes of arriving at the test site, which continued throughout their stay.

http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com/news/2011/acousticians-confirm-wind-turbine-syndrome/

Hopefully, this is the evidence that will finally cause governments to accept that wind turbines are a public health hazard requiring epidemiological studies before further deployment of turbines in populated areas.  However, we’re not holding our collective breath.

Wind turbine health issues in Australia same as in Ontario

While our posts are generally limited to news about wind turbines directly relevant to the County, we’re making an exception in this case.  The following 7-minute video from Australia, featuring comments about advese health effects of wind turbines by both medical professionals and sufferers, demonstrates similarities between rural Australia and rural Ontario.  See http://tinyurl.com/csm53xa .

Note the comment added by Lisa Michaud.  She and her husband Michel, who live in Chatham-Kent, 1.1 km downwind from the closest Kent Breeze wind turbine, are suing project owner Suncor for $1.5 million for inflicting adverse health issues on them and devaluing their property.  See http://tinyurl.com/ceewdvs .

Weekly PEC wind turbine news — Mon, Oct 17, 2011

Some topics covered in this post .. Gilead / Ostrander Point project delay .. Property value appeal on Wolfe Island .. County endorses National Park on South Shore .. CanWEA concedes indirect health effects.

Weekly PEC wind turbine news — Mon, Oct 10, 2011

News items in this post .. Leona Dombrowsky defeated .. Rural voters rejected Liberals .. South Marysburgh’s Turbine Risk Zone.

The future of South Marysburgh?

Turbine risk zone (TRZ) -- WPD / White Pines and Gilead / Ostrander Point wind projects

COUNTY COALITION FOR SAFE AND APPROPRIATE GREEN ENERGY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The majority of South Marysburgh residents may be exposed to wind turbine-related health risks

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ON — October 7, 2011 —  If two proposed wind projects are approved, most homes in South Marysburgh ward and some in Athol ward will be situated within a 2-kmTurbine Risk Zone, with 20-40% of their residents expected to experience adverse health effects.