editors note: there are those who would suggest that
because the symptoms of Wind Turbine Syndrome are being brought to the attention of the public, that the public will be more prone to experience them.
We are told how to watch for symptoms of Stroke, of Heart Attacks, of Diabetes etc. Because the public is aware of what to look for DOES NOT mean that they will have a Heart Attack, Stroke or develop Diabetes. The same stands true for Wind Turbine Syndrome.
Being aware of the symptoms of Wind Turbine Syndrome is the first step in recognizing them in yourself, your family, your children, your neighbours. Not everyone is affected, but those that are can not be ignored and may require medical assistance. Thank you.
Please note the following information.
It is also important that you share this information with your neighbours who could be affected by the turbines but have no idea that its the turbines that are causing the anxiety, or discomfort,headaches, chest pains etc.
Even if you are not yet living in a “Industrial wind farm”, be prepared.
KEEP THE ATTACHED NUMBERS BY YOUR PHONE!
The 5 IPC turbines are spinning and “the sky did not fall down”.
Many residents seem rather complacent about them because they have not effected their lives drastically and they are content to live the turbines . However, many of those people are experiencing the effects of the turbines already even though they do not realize it– things like pressure on the chest, head aches and a poor nights sleep are easily confused with normal situations.
Situations with livestock and wildlife, will not show up right away either.
We ask that you speak with your neighbours and friends and inform them of these complications from the turbines and ask them to report them immediately.
We are sending the contact numbers for complaints to you again. Keep them handy and should you experience anything, including the noise from the turbines, call the numbers given.
This is not only for families living very close to the turbines – we have already received notice of a family 4 kms from the site where family members are experiencing headaches and annoyance from noise.
An information sheet with the numbers for reporting complaints for Vineland Power and NRWC is attached to this email . Please keep these numbers handy and use them if and when you find a need to use them.
We hope that the contact numbers for NRWC will not be necessary for some time yet. But the NRWC project can be approved any day and construction can begin immediately after approval. Contact the company with any and all problems that you notice with the construction of the project, and also report all complaints to the township as well, whether that be Wainfleet, or West Lincoln or Haldimand.
Document all the calls you make and keep records of not only the calls but also the response that you receive.
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WLGWAG/MAWTReporting Concerns and Complaints about Wind Projects in Niagara:
Monthly Archives: July 2014
Needless to say, there is too much at stake to quit our fight.
Hi everyone,
I hope that you are all having a nice summer. The mothers against wind turbines are holding a garage sale this coming Saturday. This is a fund raising event to raise money for legal costs in our continued opposition to the three wind turbine projects in the area. While many people may have given up hope in light of the recent provincial election results, we are still continuing to work on fighting these projects. There are just too many errors, omissions, inadequate reporting in the Renewable Energy reports that were submitted for these projects.
As you know from the media coverage, 4 of 5 turbines in the Caistor project were erected too close to the defined set back distances to neighbouring properties. The Ministry of Environment re-issued the approval, and we have another opportunity for appeal.
For the Niagara project, there are inaccuracies in the noise level predictions, inaccuracies in buildings deemed vacant (some of these are occupied!) and many instances where natural features (ie. bat maternity colonies) were not studied prior to the submission of the application. We don’t know what water testing has been done in our area nor where engineered reports have been completed for existing gas wells in the vicinity of these large industrial turbines. Needless to say, there is too much at stake to quit our fight.
If anyone has any quality items that they are willing to donate to our sale, it would be greatly appreciated. The attached flyer provides for drop off locations, or you could drop off items on my front porch prior to Friday morning. We could use household items, gently used sports equipment, books, games, crafts, and electronic devices. If you would like to visit us on Saturday, the second flyer provides the particulars regarding the event in Grassie.
Any help that you could provide is greatly appreciated.
Loretta
MAWT Yard Sale, Saturday July 26.
Only 6 more days till the Big Yard Sale!
Donations Being Accepted Until July 24 th.
PLEASE Share with Family and Friends!!
Summary of Wind Turbine Accident data to 30 June 2014
These accident statistics are copyright Caithness Windfarm Information Forum 2014. The data may be used or referred to by groups or individuals, provided that the source (Caithness Windfarm Information Forum) is acknowledged and our URL http://www.caithnesswindfarms.co.uk quoted at the same time. Caithness Windfarm Information Forum is not responsible for the accuracy of Third Party material or references.
The detailed table includes all documented cases of wind turbine related accidents and incidents which could be found and confirmed through press reports or official information releases up to 30 June 2014. CWIF believe that this compendium of accident information may be the most comprehensive available anywhere.
Data in the detailed table is by no means fully comprehensive – CWIF believe that it is only the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of numbers of accidents and their frequency. Indeed on 11December 2011 the Daily Telegraph reported that RenewableUK confirmed that there had been 1500 wind turbine accidents and incidents in the UK alone in the past 5 years. Data here reports only 142 UK accidents
from 2006-2010 and so the figures here may only represent 9% of actual accidents. The data does however give an excellent cross-section of the types of accidents which can and do occur, and their consequences. With few exceptions, before about 1997 only data on fatal accidents has been found.
The trend is as expected – as more turbines are built, more accidents occur. Numbers of recorded accidents reflect this, with an average of 10 accidents per year from 1994-98 inclusive; 44 accidents per year from 1999-2003 inclusive; 93 accidents per year from 2004-08 inclusive, and 149 accidents per year from 2009-13 inclusive.
Overview of Problems and Solutions in Fire Protection Engineering of Wind Turbines
SOLOMON UADIALE (1) , ÉVI URBÁN (1) RICKY CARVEL(1) DAVID LANGE (2), and GUILLERMO REIN (3)
- (1 )School of Engineering University of Edinburgh, UK
- (2) SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Sweden
- (3) Department of Mechanical Engineering Imperial College London, UK
ABSTRACT
The wind energy industry is one of today’s leading industries in the renewable energy sector, providing an affordable and sustainable energy solution. However, the wind industry faces a number of challenges, one of which is fire and that can cast a shadow on its green credentials. The three elements of the fire triangle, fuel (oil and polymers), oxygen (wind) and ignition (electric, mechanical and lighting) are represent and confined to the small and closed compartment of the turbine nacelle. Moreover, once ignition occurs in a turbine, the chances of externally fighting the fire are very slim due to the height of the nacelle and the often remote location of the wind farm. Instances of reports about fires in wind farms are increasing, yet the true extent of the impact of fires on the energy industry on a global scale is impossible to assess. Sources of
information are incomplete, biased, or contain non-publically available data. The poor statistical records of wind turbine fires are a main cause of concern and hinder any research effort in this field. This paper aims to summarise the current state of knowledge in this area by presenting a review of the few sources which are available, in order to quantify and understand the fire problem in wind energy. We have found that fire is the second leading cause of catastrophic accidents in wind turbines (after blade failure) and accounts for 10 to 30% of the reported turbine accidents of any year since 1980’s. In 90% of the cases, the fire leads to a total loss of the wind turbine, or at least a downtime that results in the accumulation of economic losses.
The main causes of fire ignition in wind turbines are (in decreasing order of importance) lighting strike, electrical malfunction, mechanical malfunction and maintenance. Due to the many flammable materials used in a wind turbine ( eg. fiberglass reinforced polymers, foam insulation, cables ) and the large oil storage used for lubrication of mechanical components, the fuel load in a turbine nacelle is commonly very large. The paper finishes with an overview of the passive and active protection options and the economics (costs, revenue and insurance) of wind turbines to put in context the value of a loss turbine compared to the cost and options of fire protection. We hope that this paper will encourage the scientific community to pursue a proper understanding of the problem and its scale, allowing the development of the most appropriate fire protection engineering solutions.
Now Greenpeace is against Lego?
It’s hard to tell the Good Guys From the Bad Guys These Days.
Greenpeace Spends Thousands on Lego Kits to Make This Video and then Pours Oil Over it to make a statement? Did they then clean the Lego’s off and give the sets to kids, hopefully, some who can’t afford them, or did they….add them to the landfill?
One wonders if they were also aware that Lego has Spent over 500 Million on “Renewable Wind Power“. While learning that does not truly impress those of us fighting Wind, one would think Greenpeace would of approved. Yet not one “Industrial Wind Turbine” Lego kit was used in the making of this video….hmmm?
Vacated Due to Stray Voltage
canwea FACT Sheet:
ABOUT STRAY VOLTAGE
WHAT IS STRAY VOLTAGE?
Stray – or ‘tingle’ voltage – is a low-level electrical current or shock (typically under 10 volts) that results primarily from an improperly grounded or, in some cases an ungrounded, electrical distribution system.
Stray voltage can be found in any electrical system and is strictly a power distribution issue – improper grounding causes low voltage current to travel along a neutral wire. An electrical wiring system is
grounded in order to keep voltage potential differences between the neutral wire and the ground, below levels that could be considered harmful.
While potential exists for stray voltage in residential areas, it is most commonly found at agricultural operations and is often attributed to poor grounding of the neutral wiring system in an environment where the presence of water increases conductivity between points of contact.
Stray voltage is unwanted electricity that in some cases can pose a safety risk to animals – and to lesser degree, humans – that come in contact with it
. Farming operations are especially susceptible to incidences of stray voltage for two key reasons:
- Many working farms have electrical systems and wiring that have not been fully updated to current electrical codes and standards
- Farms have a higher number of potential contact points (e.g., metal), water and wet conditions, i.e. feed bowls and wet concrete floors
WHAT’S IN A TERM?
The term ‘stray voltage’ is often misused due to poor understanding of its cause.
Stray voltage has incorrectly been called ‘dirty electricity’, implying that some forms of electricity are better or cleaner than others. Electricity from all sources is equally ‘clean’. Stray voltage has also been confused with electricomagnetic fields (EMF), grounding systems or even naturally-occurring currentfound in the earth.
ANIMAL REACTION TO STRAY VOLTAGE
Stray voltage may affect farm animals through nerve stimulation, causing a ‘tingling’ effect. This so-called ‘tingle’ can occur when the animal comes in contact with two points that have a voltage
potential – such as a metal dish filled with water and a wet concrete floor – creating a path for current (electricity) to flow through the animal.
This nerve stimulation may have an effect on an animal’s behaviour directly – in the form of involuntary muscle contractions and/or pain; or indirectly in the form of behavioral responses such as reduced food
and water intake, or proving difficult to handle.
All electrical current must be respected as potentially harmful and stray voltage, although present in low amounts, is no different. Based on research, levels below 1 V are considered to be inconsequential, and generally not believed to cause behavioral changes in farm animals.
DETECTING AND REPAIRING INCIDENCES OF STRAY VOLTAGE
In most cases the source of stray voltage can be identified, allowing it to be either mitigated or eliminated.
Suspected cases of stray voltage should be investigated by an inspector from a local utility operator such as Hydro One, Toronto Hydro, etc., as it is a common distribution issue for farm operators as a result of inconsistent wiring quality. A utility inspector will investigate the farm’s existing wiring system to ensure
proper installation, wire condition and code compliance. An inspector will seek to isolate the source of neutral-to-earth (ground) voltage through measurement of voltage at various points within the electrical system. This helps to determine whether the issue is related to on-farm wiring and distribution or whether the issue is related to the electrical distribution system off the farm.
COUNTERING INCIDENCES OF STRAY VOLTAGE IN ONTARIO
In 2007, the province of Ontario began an extensive research and consultation process into the phenomenon of stray voltage and its effects on the farm sector. In 2009, the Ontario Energy Board
(OEB) enacted code amendments detailing procedures and methodology for dealing with incidences of stray voltage
As part of its two-year research and consultation process, the OEB employed Dr. Douglas J. Reinemann, a Professor of Biological Systems Engineering and a leading authority on stray voltage to review studies and literature on the subject.
Recognizing stray voltage’s connection to farming operations, Dr. Reinemann sought to further clarify the term ‘stray voltage’ by further defining it as “…a low-level electrical shock that can produce
sensation or annoyance in farm animals”. He also further specifies the term as “a special case of voltage developed on the grounded neutral system of a farm”.
STRAY VOLTAGE AND WIND ENERGY
There has been much confusion on the topic of stray voltage, and wind turbines have at times been inappropriately linked as direct sources of stray voltage.
Stray voltage is a potential symptom in any system of electrical distribution, regardless of source and is especially prevalent on working farms. Wind turbines are often located in agricultural areas, connecting to the provincial electricity grid with farm operators leasing the land on which the turbines sit. Through improved regulation and electrical code enforcement, incidences of stray voltage will be increasingly detected and eliminated.
https://mothersagainstturbines.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/strayvoltagefactsheet-1.pdf
Uncontrolled electricity awareness on farms (2014)
By Brent Royce, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Experiencing production challenges or caring for livestock with health problems is never easy on the farm. It’s even more difficult when farmers and veterinarians struggle to identify the source of the problem.
Now, more Ontario farmers are becoming aware of an environmental challenge that has a significant impact on animal health – the issue of Also called “ground current” or “stray voltage,”Uncontrolled Electricity occurs when there is a constant underground electrical current flowing in the ground or barn. Animals can be exposed to shocks transmitted through barn floors, milking equipment and water bowls. Livestock exposed to uncontrolled electricity may have lower production, stop eating or drinking, or exhibit other odd behavior. Some cases even result in death.
It’s important that Ontario farmers educate themselves on how to recognize the signs of ground current challenges on the farm. That’s why the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is helping to raise awareness about uncontrolled electricity. We belong to a working group of agricultural organizations in Ontario that is looking to identify the severity of the problem, and work with utility companies to address the issue.
The OFA has also launched a series of online videos to help raise awareness about issues such as uncontrolled electricity. OFA’s most recent video, Understanding Uncontrolled Electricity on the Farm, provides background information on the issue, and explains important steps farmers need to take to identify and fix the on-farm problem and where to find help.
For farmers who suspect uncontrolled electricity is at play on their farm, their first phone call needs to be to a licensed electrician. The electrician should visit the farm to test for ground current, and work with the farmer to fix any problems that are within the farm’s electrical system.
Uncontrolled electricity can also come from off–farm sources beyond a farmer’s control, such as the farm’s electricity carrier. If the licensed electrician discovers the problem is from an off-farm source, he or she will work with the farmer to contact the local utility to file a report. A utility representative needs to visit the farm to test for ground current. It is important that farmers document all reports of uncontrolled electricity, so that all parties are aware of the extent of the problem.
The OFA is working with other agricultural organizations and Hydro One to address ground current challenges on Ontario farms. Gaining more control over this and other issues will go a long way in helping to enabling prosperous and sustainable farms.
For more information check out our video on uncontrolled electricity – on our You tube Channel, OntarioFarms, or visit http://www.ofa.on.ca/ to learn more about this serious concern.
For more information, contact:
Brent Royce
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-291-8279
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
Wind Turbines Make Waves: Why Some Residents Near Wind Turbines Become Ill
Magda Havas and David Colling
Abstract
People who live near wind turbines complain of symptoms that include some combination of the following: difficulty sleeping, fatigue, depression, irritability, aggressiveness, cognitive dysfunction, chest pain/pressure, headaches, joint pain, skin irritations, nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, and stress. These symptoms have been attributed to the pressure (sound) waves that wind turbines generate in the form of noise and infrasound. However, wind turbines also generate electromagnetic waves in the form of poor power quality (dirty electricity) and ground current, and these can adversely affect those who are electrically hypersensitive. Indeed, the symptoms mentioned above are consistent with electrohypersensitivity. Sensitivity to both sound and electromagnetic waves differs among individuals and may explain why not everyone in the same home experiences similar effects. Ways to mitigate the adverse health effects of wind turbines are presented.
Introduction
With growing concern about climate change, the carbon budget, depletion of fossil fuels, air pollution from dirty coal, radiation from nuclear power plants, and the need for a secure energy supply, more attention and funding are being diverted to renewable energy. Among the various types of renewable energy, wind has received a lot of attention due, in part, to opposition from communities earmarked for wind turbines and from communities that have experienced wind turbines firsthand.
Some people who live near wind turbines report difficulty sleeping and various symptoms of ill health and attribute these problems to noise and shadow flicker—two elements they can perceive. Indeed the U.S. National Research Council (Risser et al., 2007) identify noise and shadow flicker as the two key impacts of wind turbines on human health and well-being.
Not all health agencies, however, recognize that sound waves from wind turbines may cause adverse health effects. Following a review of the literature, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario (2010), concluded
that while some people living near wind turbines report symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and sleep disturbance, the scientific evidence available to date does not demonstrate a direct causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects. the sound level sound level from wind turbines at common residential setbacks is not sufficient to cause hearing impairment or other direct health effects, although some people may find it annoying.
Low frequency sound and infrasound from current generation upwind model turbines are well below the pressure sound levels at which known health effects occur. Further, there is no scientific evidence to date that vibration from low frequency wind turbine noise causes adverse health effects.
follow link to read full report: Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society
Wind Turbines: A Different Breed of Noise?
“Much of what scientists can conclude today about the health effects of noise in general draws upon studies of transportation noise in urban areas conducted over the past four decades. Among the first to suggest a link between noise and learning impairment was a 1975 study by environmental psychologist Arline Bronzaft.21 In a New York City elementary school adjacent to an elevated train track, Bronzaft compared the reading scores of children in classrooms facing the tracks to those of children in classrooms on the other side of the building. She discovered that children on the noisy side were nearly one year behind their peers in reading. After two years, once noise-abatement measures had been completed—and other classroom variables held constant—Bronzaft returned to the school and found reading scores on both sides of the building to be at the same grade level.22”
Mothers Against Wind Turbines Inc. 