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Wind turbine sound studies to cost more than originally planned

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Harry Sullivan Truro Daily News, June 20, 2014

TRURO – Monitoring the noise levels of industrial wind farms is going to be more complicated and expensive than originally anticipated by Colchester County council when it updated a wind turbine bylaw last year.

Council initially enacted a wind turbine development bylaw in 2009 and then updated it last fall to address concerns expressed by residents. The updated version changed the setback distance of a turbine to the nearest residence from 750 metres to 1,000 metres (one kilometre) and also included a maximum sound tolerance of 36 decibels for any turbine operating within the county.

Turbines found to be operating above that level can be ordered shut down.

At the time the bylaw was written, however, council was acting on staff advice that the sound monitoring could be conducted simply by using a hand-held device.

Further research by staff, however, has determined that hand-held sound monitors cannot distinguish between the noise from a turbine’s blades and wind moving through the trees.

Sound studies cannot be conducted until a turbine is operating and Smith told council they would have to be conducted by sound experts at a cost of between $7,000 and $10,000 for the type of study required to fully assess how much noise is being generated.

Under the terms of the bylaw, an initial sound study must be conducted within a year of an industrial wind turbine becoming operational. Further studies could be required each time the municipality receives a legitimate complaint from a resident living within close proximity to a turbine.

“We are the pioneers in this,” Smith said, given that no other Nova Scotia municipality has established a sound policy.

The cost for conducting such studies is to be paid by the developer/owner of a given wind farm.

“I can foresee this becoming a very expensive venture for somebody,” Coun. Wade Parker said. “I think this is going to become very complicated. Very, very complicated.” Read rest of article here.

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local/2014-06-20/article-3771761/Wind-turbine-sound-studies-to-cost-more-than-originally-planned/1

 

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Court of appeal to hear Prince Edward County turtle case

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CCSAGEadmin's avatarCCSAGE Naturally Green

11th hour reprieveEleventh hour reprieve!

For immediate release, June 20, 2014, Picton

Court of Appeal to Hear Prince Edward County Turtle Case

The Ontario Court of Appeal has granted leave and will hear the case involving the threatened Blanding’s turtles of Ostrander Point. In July of 2013, the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal revoked the approval issued by the Ministry of the Environment to Ostrander Point GP. to operate nine wind turbines, citing “serious and irreversible harm” to the turtle population. In February 2014, the Divisional Court reversed that ruling.

Today, the Court of Appeal indicated that it will hear the appeal of this decision. “This is an important step forward in the public’s efforts to protect one of the Province’s most ecologically sensitive habitats” said Myrna Wood, representing the Appellant Prince Edward County Field Naturalists (PECFN). In March 2014, the Court of Appeal also halted further construction at the site. The granting…

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SWEAR, HALT AND HEAT Unite the Fight in Divisional Court

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For Immediate Release:  June 20, 2014

TURBINE PROJECT APPEALS CO-JOINED AND COURT DATES SET

 

The move to “Unite the Fight” has advanced another step.  Three local wind groups, SWEAR (Safe Wind Energy for All Residents), HEAT (Huron East Against Turbines) and HALT (Huron-Kinloss Against Lakeside Turbines) have announced that on Monday, June 9th, the Falconer law firm successfully argued to have their Divisional Court appeals co-joined. The groups have been fighting against the construction of wind farms near Goderich, St. Columban and Kincardine respectively. Dates to hear this appeal have been set for November 17, 18 and 19, 2014.  Falconers LLP is also seeking a date for a co-joined stay of the K2, St. Columban and Armow wind projects prior to the appeal in November.

 

The question arose at the March 1, 2013 Superior Court SWEAR (representing Shawn & Trish Drennan) hearing as to the ability of the Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) to hear a question on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”) and how the Green Energy and Economy Act and “level of harm” apply.  Justice Duncan Grace stayed the proceeding until such time as a Renewable Energy Approval (REA) was granted for the K2 Wind project and an opportunity to appeal to the ERT presented itself.  SWEAR was represented by Julian Falconer, a prominent human rights and constitutional lawyer.

 

Project approvals were granted by the Ministry of the Environment for the K2, St. Columban and Armow wind farms.  As directed by Justice Grace, ERT appeals for all three approvals were filed.  They were each heard by the tribunal and denied.

 

“It is important to note that not all of the constitutional issues were allowed in at the hearings”, explains Dave Hemingway, president of SWEAR.  “Justice Grace gave us a right of appeal to the Divisional Court on a question of law if there was not a proper airing of the constitutional issues at the ERT level.  We have followed that course of action and are happy to be joining forces with HEAT and HALT as we move forward.”

 

“The work of putting this case together has been ongoing since May 2011.  A substantial record of evidence has been created to date.  We are moving forward.” states Shawn Drennan.

 

Gerry Ryan, president of HEAT, commented that “at the heart of the lawsuit is a challenge under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  If this Charter Challenge is successful, it will set a precedent and will assist all appeals and legal challenges going forward.  Others can then raise the same issues and seek the same relief.  Communities which are dealing with existing projects could also receive benefit.”

 

“This action has the potential to shift the burden of proof from the need to prove direct serious harm to human health to the need to prove the possibility of harm, a much lower and more reasonable threshold” says Kevin McKee, president of HALT.

 

Hemingway adds that there is a broader public interest being served.  “It has taken time to educate the public to what is happening but the understanding is now clearly there.  This case is for the people of Ontario.  The government says that massive industrial wind turbine developments are safe.  We, the people, are holding them accountable.  The Charter is the government’s promise to every man, woman and child in Canada, guaranteeing that we will have security to conduct our affairs and lives in relative peace.  The government of Ontario did not exercise due diligence when crafting the Green Energy and Economy Act.  A very heavy handed approach was used.  Ontario citizens should not take kindly to this type of governance.”

 

Groups from across the province have and continue to come together to support this Charter Challenge.  SWEAR, HALT & HEAT report that they have been successful in their fundraising to date.  They note that they have come a long way and they want to keep going – right to the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary.  The groups express thanks to all who have supported them in the past. Members of the public can get more information or donate to this action by contacting one of the following:

Dave Hemingway: davehemingway@gmail.com   519-482-7005 Gerry Ryan: gerkar@tcc.on.ca  519-345-2620                                      Kevin McKee: crowningtouchfarm@gmail.com  519-396-8110

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Skydive Burnaby Appealing Tribunal Decision

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Skydive BurnabyFred Furminger  The Tribune  June 28, 2014

 

Construction of Wainfleet Wind Energy turbines has been halted by a court order as Skydive Burnaby appeals the May ruling of Ontario’s environmental review tribunal, which dismissed its concerns about safety to its nearby parachutists.

Tara Pitt, who co-owns the skydiving club with husband Mike, said Ontario Divisional Court has granted an injunction prohibiting Wainfleet Wind Energy from any further work on the remainder of its five-turbine project in the Concession 1 area pending the appeal.

The injunction that went into effect last Monday applies only to the two unfinished turbines some 1.5 kilometres west of Skydive Burnaby on land owned by the Loeffen family, a partner in the wind energy company with Rankin Construction.

Tom Rankin said Tuesday there remains little left to do to complete those two turbines on Station Rd., and tie them in to three other finished Vestas V100-1.8MW turbines that have yet to be put into energy production.

“I should be operating now,” Rankin said.

The Pitts filed to have their case heard by the environmental review tribunal in October 2013 over concerns their business established in 1948 and its skydiving clients would be at risk by the 95-metre-tall turbines. Three weeks of hearings took place over January and February and subsequent conference calls with involved parties in March and April.

In his 87-page decision handed down in May, tribunal vice-chair Dirk VanderBent said the Pitts did not provide sufficient evidence to suggest its skydivers will be seriously harmed by collision with the wind turbines or interaction with their turbulence wakes.

Skydive Burnaby’s next recourse was to file an appeal with Ontario’s Divisional Court, which is responsible for hearing appeals from administrative tribunals. Appeals are normally heard by three Superior Court justices.

The Pitts’ lawyer, Eric Gillespie, said the injunction imposed by the court came with two conditions: that a hearing date be set in August — since set for the 18th and 19th; and that the Pitts give an undertaking to pay Wainfleet Wind Energy damages if their appeal is unsuccessful.

Gillespie said the undertaking will be challenged at a court review next Friday.

Wainfleet Wind Energy’s five turbines working in tandem, its website says, are estimated to generate 26 million kWh of power annually, enough electricity to power 2,500 homes.  Read article here.

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Turbines Spin Without Approval

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Grimsby Lincoln News,  June 19, 2014  Amanda Moore

WEST LINCOLN — They’ve only been running a few days and already residents living near wind turbines say they are feeling the effects.

“I don’t hear the refrigerator or anything anymore,” said Zlata Zoretic, seated at neighbour Wendy Veldman’s kitchen table Tuesday afternoon. “Just this low hum.”

Zoretic said she has felt pressure in her ears since the turbines in the HAF Wind Energy Project were turned on June 12. Her bedroom window gives her an uninterrupted view of the turbine that is just 640 metres from her home.

“Is it in my head? I don’t know,” she said. “It’s driving me crazy.”

The turbines were switched on without warning last week for a 24-hour and have not stopped turning since.  Read rest of article.

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Wainfleet continues push against wind turbines

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alt's avatarHead Wind Ontario

Wants province to review its renewable energy process

Port Colborne Leader
By Steve Henschel

WAINFLEET — Council wants a second look.

Last week township council voted to approve a motion by Alderman Betty Konc calling on the province to review its current renewable energy process. Konc explained the motion is yet another attempt for the town to gain some traction in the continued effort to stop wind turbine development in the area.

“It’s a motion born out of frustration,” said Konc, noting under the current Green Energy Act the township cannot outright stop the construction of turbines that some have associated with health risks and declining property values.

The township did attempt to initiate a two-kilometre setback requirement for turbines, a move later quashed in court.

“They need to stop this nonsense,” said Konc of the province, adding, “we have the right to say we don’t want a Tim Hortons…

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Schmalz: turbine fight is a ‘worldwide movement’

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Shoreline Beacon Friday, May 16, 2014

Buergerinitiative Windstill, Germany

A town hall style meeting was held at Maple Hall in Port Elgin Thursday night on the subject of wind turbines.

The meeting falls shortly after the one year anniversary the Unifor turbine blades started spinning it was fourth in a series of open meetings for continued education. The turbine meeting, which was hosted by Saugeen Shores Turbine Operation Policy (S.T.O.P) brought in two speakers with new theories and histories in the fight against wind power.

Organizer Greg Schmaltz quipped “people are probably tired of hearing from him,” so he brought in some featured speakers from Toronto.

First to speak was Sherri Lange, the co-founder of Toronto Wind Action “whose claim to fame is that they beat the turbines on the Scarborough Bluffs down in Toronto,” said Schmalz.

Lange is also CEO of NAPAW (North American Platform Against Wind).

The second speaker Thursday evening was Kevin Dooley “who likes to be called an inventor and he truly is, with over one hundred US patents’ to his name,” Schamlz added. “He is a retired jet engine turbine specialist; his life’s mission is all about vibration which of course noise is a vibration.”

The S.T.O.P spokesperson said Dooley has interesting theories about how people suffering adverse effects from industrial turbines are in fact identical to motion sickness that you would experience on a boat caused by atmospheric pressure changes “which is a pretty cutting edge scientific data.”

Dooley’s presentation showcased The McMauley Hypothsis about infrasound and how it causes tempera illness. He displayed acoustic data captured from Port Elgin homes showing the rate of the blade passing the tower in a pulse spectra analysis.

“These frequencies of thumping are specific to each wind turbine”, said Dooley. Read rest of article here.

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MAWT-WLGWAG Information Night – May 7th

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Unite The Fight- May 7th 2014
Location: Silverdale Hall; West Lincoln, Ontario

Pictures and write up submitted by Linda Rogers

It was a full house once again at Silverdale Hall in rural Ontario.  People had come to hear the latest updates and  information  about various wind installations and legal and community actions being taken, not only locally but across the province.   The night  was co- hosted by WLGWAG (West Lincoln Glanbrook Wind Action Group) and  MAWT (Mothers Against Wind Turbines Inc).

The following comment captures the themes of the night well:

“Really proud of my communities tonight and the people that live in them. When I have seen old time photographs of towns holding community meetings to come together to discuss or combat some issue facing them I envied their connection to one another.  I guess out of bad, some good always comes.  If we lived in a perfect utopia we would never appreciate what we have because we would never understand what it would mean if it was taken away. Democracy and community has never seemed so fine and precious as it has these past few years.”

Differences are being set aside and people are focused on the fight against the unwanted and harmful industrialization of our countryside by wind development.  Community action at a grass roots level is a growing force to be reckoned with.

 

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Lecturer says answers are blowing in the wind

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Waterloo Daily Bulletin

by Robert Henderson and Michael Makahnouk. May 6, 2014

Lecture poster.The effects of wind turbines will be the topic of discussion at an event featuring Carmen Krogh called “Harm from Wind Turbines: What Has Been Known for Decades” on Wednesday, May 7 at 3:30 p.m. in DC 1302.

The talk is being hosted by Professor Richard Mann in the Cheriton School of Computer Science, who has been researching, recording, and measuring wind turbine noise since 2013.

Krogh has been invited to present the latest findings on wind turbines and human health.

“The topic of adverse health effects associated with wind facilities is globally debated,” reads the talk’s abstract. “It is acknowledged that if placed too close to residents, industrial wind turbines can negatively affect the physical, mental and social well-being of some. There is published research on the effects of Low Frequency/Infrasound (LFI) on people and animals dating back several decades. This presentation will provide some of the available evidence drawn from peer reviewed literature, authoritative references, and other sources.”

Carmen Krogh is an independent, full-time volunteer who has researched health and other effects associated with industrial wind energy facilities who has been published in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals and has presented papers at scientific noise conferences. She held senior positions at a major teaching hospital; as a drug information researcher; a professional association and the Health Protection Branch of Health Canada (PMRA). She is a former Director of Publications and Editor-in-chief of the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS), the book used by physicians, nurses, and health professionals for prescribing information on prescription medication in Canada.

The event is free and open to the public.

Carmen Krogh Click below to listen to Carmen live.

Carmen Krogh

Universities & Education Event

Date

Wed May, 7 2014 3:30 PM EDT — Wed May, 7 2014 5:00 PM EDT

In Memorium, Protecting our children

A Tribute to Mothers

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“Tell Us About Your Mother”

Request for written tributes, poems, art, photos, videos to mothers.

 

Please submit to:       mothersagainstwindturbines@gmail.com

This is not a contest.  No prizes will be awarded.   This is a simple opportunity to tell us about your mother, being a mother, becoming a mother, missing your mother, your family and sharing that story.

In the rush of the day a simple request is being made to stop and a take a moment for celebration and reflection.  Soon it will be Mother’s day and the push will be on to demonstrate and honour her with a showering of flowers, cards and gifts.  Trinkets and treasures to show appreciation for the person who helped make you the person you are today.

Our life experiences and realities come in many different versions and are as varied and unique as each one of us.  The relationship with your mother may be sweet or even bitter, but shaped all of us into the person we are today.  You are held by the hands of your mother all through the many stages of your life.   Whether that person gave birth to you or not, or life circumstances created your family beyond the stereotypical image of the nuclear family, your Mother plays a pivotal role.  A time also comes for many woman when you become a mother and your primary focus is now that life you hold in your hands as another generation grows and matures.

Protecting children and family is a universal desire that binds all communities.  This group came together to protect our families, and our children born and yet to be.  The mothers have always been the protectors of families and the land which we need to survive, and where we live our lives.   We are real and the voices are strong.

Please write us telling us about your family and the person who helped make you and your family, and is your Mother.