Monthly Archives: September 2016

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Time to step up & face the issues

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“The Huron County Board of Health has voted in favour of partnering with the University of Waterloo and Wind Concerns Ontario on a study of the health impacts of wind turbines in Huron County.

It was made clear to board members the health unit’s commitment is limited to collecting date and analyzing that data, and nothing more than that, and it was also pointed out the participation of the health unit would not result in any additional costs.

Spokesperson for the Concerned Citizens of Huron Patti Kellar says she’s happy that the board has agreed to move ahead with the study, but maintains it should have happened six months ago. She believes there’s no doubt the study will find a relationship between proximity to turbines and health problems, because she experiences them herself. Kellar says she hopes that once that link has been established the wind energy companies will halt the operation of the turbines, and work with residents to address their concerns. She adds she would like to see them removed, but admits realistically that’s not likely to happen.patti-kellar_dvd_original

Kellar says not everyone feels the affects of the turbines, but maintains people with a health issue will find that aggravated by the turbines, and anyone who is predisposed with a health problem will find that problem will be triggered by the presence of wind turbines.”

READ AT: http://blackburnnews.com/midwestern-ontario/2016/09/01/huron-board-health-favour-wind-turbine-study/

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One step closer to investigation

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house and wind turbine

MOTION:

Moved by: Member Jewitt and Seconded by:  Member Steffler

THAT:

The Board of Health accepts the report of Jean-Guy Albert, Public Health Manager, dated September 1, 2016, entitled Proposed joint investigation to be conducted by Wind Concerns Ontario, University of Waterloo and Huron County Health Unit into wind turbines and reported associated human health effects, as presented for information;

AND FURTHER THAT:

The Board of Health agrees to the request made during its August 4, 2016 meeting for the Health Unit’s participation in the proposed investigation into wind turbines and reported associated human health effects, to be conducted in partnership with Wind Concerns Ontario and the University of Waterloo.

CARRIED

Susan Cronin

County Clerk

The Corporation of the County of Huron

1 Courthouse Square

Goderich ON N7A 1M2

519-524-8394 Ext 3257

Animals and turbines, Destruction from turbines, Environment, Green Energy, Uncategorized

Eagle Kills & Wind Projects

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“How do you report that birds are taken, are you counting them, and are they reporting them?” Kasperik asked.

“The short answer is, no,” Abbott said.

“Pretty much with all the projects out there, unless the company that is running that operation is going out there and conducting surveys of their own, there are no data being collected in terms of the number of migratory birds being taken.”

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Doug Bell of the East Bay Regional Park District, in a 2007 photo with a golden eagle found near turbines in California’s Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area. The raptor, which had a compound wing fracture, later was euthanized. Janice Gan/Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District

Eagle Take Permit Considered at Hearing

A new federal regulation that would give the wind industry 30-year permits for unintentional eagle deaths was the topic of a recent legislative committee hearing in Casper.

The issue centers on a 2013 U.S. Fish and Wildlife decision that increased the length of eagle take permits from the current five years to 30, but only for wind energy projects and related infrastructure, such as transmission facilities.

A federal judge in California struck down the rule in 2014, shortly after it was issued, after conservation groups challenged it on environmental grounds. This past February the federal government decided it was not going to appeal the court’s decision.

Tyler Abbott, a deputy field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Ecological Services, told the Select Federal Natural Resources Management Committee that a new rule was emerging as a result of those actions.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service … is in the process of developing some definitions, some draft regulations and an environmental impact statement that could potentially lead to the authorization of an incidental take permit in the future, but right now it’s in development, and it’s not active legally,” Abbott said.

The proposed new rule would continue to allow 30-year permits for wind energy, but it now also includes a review every five years, bringing it somewhat in line with present permit length. The rule also has stipulations that companies seeking eagle take permits work collaboratively with Fish and Wildlife on a bird protection plan.

READ MORE:  http://casperjournal.com/news/local/casper/article_6c745815-e428-56e1-a79d-7c8883380802.html

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Farmers On Guard

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Guide rails installed for Niagara Wind on Port Davidson Road raise safety concerns

Grimsby Lincoln News

By Amanda Moore 

WEST LINCOLN — When massive transmission towers were erected alongside rural roads, farmers took notice. Now that guide rails have been installed alongside them, those concerns have been amplified.

Since the rails were installed in close proximity to Port Davidson Road several farmers have reached out to the local office of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to express their concerns. Chief among them is road safety.

“The poles raised concerns about safety, being that close to the road,” said Henry Swierenga, OFA member services representative. “The guiderails are even closer. It’s a concern for the farm community and the travelling public. Unfortunately, we’ve had incidents involving farm equipment in the past and this just adds to the risk.

“There’s not a lot of room to get yourself out of trouble.”

According to Montreal-based Boralex, which owns a 25-per-cent stake in the Niagara Region Wind Farm project, the guide rails have been installed to follow provincial road safety regulations and with the approval of the local municipality.

“We have contracted a professional engineering consulting firm to do the design of these, including defining how close to/far away from the road the guide rails should be,” said Marc Weatherill, project manager, via email. “That said, we have asked them to keep the guide rails as far from the road as possible so that there is room for larger vehicles and equipment to pass through, particularly farm equipment.”

Weatherill said they are working with the municipal and regional governments on the placement of the guide rails.

“We are working together with local representatives and professional advisors to do what we can to keep the guide rails away from the road while still abiding by road safety regulations,” he said.

Farmers say those considerations are not enough, and the placement will present a challenge in just a few weeks when the harvest begins.

Cash crop farmer John Sikkens said it’s a risk every time he takes his large machinery down the road. While the majority of drivers are patient with farmers, there are some who are in such a hurry they put themselves and farmers in danger, he said. Sikkens said there is not much room to pass as it is on rural roads in the township, as shoulders are close to non-existent. He suspects the guide rails will present challenges come fall when crops like soybean and corn need to be harvested….

READ MORE: http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/6831041-road-safety-measures-have-farmers-on-guard/?s=n1