Wind turbines are to be removed from all but one school in the Highlands because of safety concerns.

The U-turn follows a protest over several years by campaigners angry about the lack of a buffer zone between the machines and pupils and staff.

Single turbines at four Caithness primary schools – Bower, Castletown, Crossroads and South – have already been removed.

Eight others, elsewhere in the region, will follow.

It is understood that the council is keen to relocate them to other properties it owns.

A council spokeswoman said: “We have recently undertaken a revised risk assessment in accordance with Health and Safety Executive requirements.

“We have taken all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the risks associated with having turbines in school grounds.

“However, we have determined that we cannot actively manage the perceived risks from turbines on school grounds and have decided to remove the turbines and relocate them.”

read more: The Press and Journal, 6 August 2015 by Iain Ramage

Final Report Australian Senate Committee on Wind Turbines, August 3, 2015

Pg. 17 (39 of 350 in pdf)

The need for civility in public debate

“As the committee noted in its interim report (paragraph 1.13), it is disappointed that renewable energy advocates, wind farm developers and operators, public officials and academics continue to denigrate those who claim that wind turbines have caused their ill health.”

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Wind_Turbines/Wind_Turbines/Final_Report

Wind Neighbors Support Health Commission Bill H2032

The State House hearing on H2032 wrapped up late in the day with Sharon Eddy’s testimony about Wind I in Falmouth (7/28/15).

My first encounter with Wind I was at 11 pm immediately after startup.  I was typing a letter on my computer when I felt a direct push on my chest. It knocked whatever I was thinking out of my head and I remember thinking, “What the heck just happened?” That was the beginning of a long, long nightmare.

A month later, my learning disabled son, whose IQ is 73, came to visit during the day. He went out onto our back deck and said, “Mom, I just felt something on my body.” Then he said, “I don’t want to sound dumb, but is that thing turning?”

Read more of Sharon Eddy’s statement, including her letter to the Falmouth Board of Health and entries from her health log. She concluded, “I’ve always believed in science and collection of data and findings to back a theory or inquiry…only then can we learn.”

Eddy described her expeience at the packed hearing: “It was very hot and no room to sit. I was over 2 hours sitting on the floor next to others. Got home at 9 pm as didn’t get out of session until after 5:30 then stuck in Boston traffic for 3 hrs. I was last to testify at 5:20.”

http://windwisema.org/2015/08/02/wind-neighbors-support-health-commission-bill-h2032/

REDA- Radiation Emitting Devices Act and Wind Turbines- Letter from Honourable Ben Lobb MP

Ben Lobb, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.

June 2015 newsletter (extract):

NEWS FROM OTTAWA

Some people in the riding of Huron-Bruce have reached out to me many times because of concerns about the operation of industrial wind projects in proximity to their homes.

These concerns are validated through peer reviewed research published internationally. As the Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) I take these reports very seriously.

According to David Michaud PhD, principal investigator for the Health Canada wind turbine noise and health study 2014, the Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA) has authority over wind turbine emissions in the form of electromagnetic waves or acoustical waves.

Upon investigation I believe the REDA has a system in place to make sure those with wind turbine health and noise complaints are heard at the federal level. Continue reading Make Wind Turbine Health and Noise Complaints heard at the Federal Level. →