All posts by pbiljan

Uncategorized

Shirley Wind Human Health Hazard Declaration * BCCRWE Requests Your Words of Support *

Leave a comment

 

At the October 14, 2014 Brown County Board of Health meeting a motion was made to declare the Shirley Wind turbines a Human Health Hazard. The following motion was unanimously approved by the Board:

“To declare the Industrial Wind Turbines at Shirley Wind Project in the Town of Glenmore, Brown County, WI. A Human Health Hazard for all people (residents, workers, visitors, and sensitive passersby) who are exposed to Infrasound/Low Frequency Noise and other emissions potentially harmful to human health.”

Brown County is located in Wisconsin, USA.

Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy (BCCRWE) has issued a press release regarding this Human Health Hazard declaration, which can be seen at :http://bccrwe.com/index.php/8-news/16-duke-energy-s-shirley-wind-declared-human-health-hazard  BCCRWE is requesting your words of support for this action.

Research indicates that industrial wind turbines can negatively affect the physical, mental and social well-being of individuals if placed too close to homes. BCCRWE has been working
intensively for the past 5 years with professional researchers, physicians, acousticians, and legislators to protect citizens of Brown County, the state of Wisconsin, the United States, and those in other countries from the negative health impacts resulting from industrial wind turbines being built too close to people.

BCCRWE welcomes and encourages individuals, organizations, and governmental agencies from around the world to send their words of support regarding the Board of Health’s action. BCCRWE will pass your emails on to the Brown County Board of Health as support for their courage, integrity, responsibility, intellectual honesty, and care in declaring the industrial wind turbines at Shirley Wind to be human health hazards.

If you or others you know have experienced negative health impacts from living in close proximity to industrial wind turbines and would like to share that experience along with your words of support with the Brown County Board of Health, please do so.

Send your words of support, and if applicable your experiences, to:
BOHsupport@bccrwe.com

Thank you,

Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy

BOH Support Request (1)

legal challenges

Industrial Wind Turbines …. The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Leave a comment

Industrial Wind Turbines

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Written by: Anna Sand
This Monday and Tuesday, will bring to a finale a 4 year legal battle. The fight? To stop the construction of 9 industrial wind turbines (IWT) in Ostrander Point, one of North America’s most important migratory routes for birds and home to endangered species.
The battle pits residents and environmental groups, like Nature Canada, against Gilead Power Corporation and the Government.

But what is the problem? Aren’t wind turbines GREEN? Why would environmental groups be in direct opposition to a green energy project? Conversely, with such a small project and such opposition, why hasn’t Gilead just walked away?  The reason?  The hidden stakes are much bigger than they might first appear.

Part of the problem is the location: Ostrander Point, Prince Edward County. Sometimes called the New Niagara on the Lake, the ‘County’ has grown in popularity in recent years. An island 3 hours east of Toronto; it’s home to over 35 wineries, organic farms,
the world famous Sandbanks Provincial Park, a National Wildlife Reserve and Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, which attracts birders from around the world. Ostrander Point and the County, it turns out, are homes to endangered species and are directly in
one of the most important migratory routes for birds in North America.

Unfortunately, Gilead has much bigger plans than just 9 IWT. If Gilead wins this fight, they plan to build another 90 Industrial Wind Turbines across the County.

Little Old Ladies with Sticks

Okay, they aren’t holding sticks but… holding bake sales, tea parties, selling t-shirts and anything else they can do, this mighty band of opposition, the ‘Turtle Defenders’ – after the endangered Blanding’s Turtle whose home sits directly in the path of the planned
IWT construction – includes some spit fiery seniors! So far they’ve raised over $193,000 to fight against the construction of the turbines. (Clearly, the public supports them.) It’s both a sad and empowering sight. Little old ladies up in arms and not backing down,
sitting behind their lone (but determined!) lawyer, Eric Gillespie, a specialist in environmental law. The Gilead Corporation, on the other hand, is flanked by a team of high priced lawyers, including government lawyers paid for with tax payer dollars. David
versus Goliath. Continue reading Industrial Wind Turbines …. The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing →

ERT Appeal

PECFN will be defending the ERT ruling that denied the MOE approval

Leave a comment

Court of Appeal Schedule

downloadOn December 8 and 9 PECFN will be defending the ERT ruling that denied the MOE approval of development at Ostrander Point.  The case will be heard in the Appeal Court of Ontario, Osgoode Hall Rm 2 starting at 1030.  Osgoode Hall is adjacent to the Toronto City Hall on Queen St. in Toronto at the corner of University Ave.  We expect PECFN to be well represented on the spectators’ benches – hopefully with Turtle shirts in evidence.  The PECFN case and intervenors (Nature Canada and South Shore Conservancy) will be heard first.  Gilead and the MOE with intervenor Canadian Wind Energy Association will be heard on Tuesday with a reply allowed for PECFN afterwards.

Cheryl Anderson

www.saveostranderpoint.org

Appeal NRWC Wind Project

NRWC project estimates “1372” Truck Deliveries and Removals PER TURBINE Site!!

Leave a comment

The following chart is taken from page 23 of the NIAGARA REGION WIND FARM CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORT.   1342 Trucks Deliveries and Removal Per Turbine.  That’s 1342 x 77 turbines = 103 334 Heavy Industrial Trucks running up and down our country roads.

If you want to help prevent  this from happening then donate to the MAWT Inc. Legal Fund.  Donate Now Before it’s to late!

103 334 Trucks!!

truck loads

Adverse Health Effects, Direct Effects, ERT Appeal, Health Canada's wind Turbine Noise and Health Study, Health effects from wind turbines

Health Canada study: Ontario wind turbine rules not protecting citizens

Leave a comment

December 3, 2014

NEWS RELEASE

Health Canada study: Ontario wind turbine rules not protecting citizens

The results of a Health Canada study released November 6 show that Ontario is not protecting the health of residents living near wind turbines, and that longer setbacks between the wind turbines and homes are required.

Health Canada’s summary of its Wind Turbine Noise and Health study results included the fact that responses to the study’s questionnaire show participants reporting experiencing distress or annoyance when wind turbine noise was at 35 decibels/dBA.   Current Ontario regulations are based on the World Health Organization Night Noise limit of 40 dBA but that limit was designed solely for traffic and airport noise.  Continue reading Health Canada study: Ontario wind turbine rules not protecting citizens →

Appeal NRWC Wind Project, ERT Appeal, Health Canada's wind Turbine Noise and Health Study, Health effects from wind turbines

Wind turbine appeal to be heard in “Wellandport” (not Smithville)

Leave a comment

Please donate to the Legal Fund, we can fight only as far as the money takes us.

Wind turbine appeal to be heard in Smithville   Wellandport

1331173896981_ORIGINALAs they said they would, an advocacy group has appealed the decision to allow a 77-turbine wind farm to be built in west Niagara, but they have no disillusions of their chances of winning.

A preliminary hearing for a tribunal that could overturn the wind farm approval has now been scheduled for Dec. 19 at the Wellandport Community Centre.

That building, on Canborough Rd. in Smithville, has become a key site in the wind turbine debate, with numerous public meetings held there as progress on the massive development has slowly moved forward.

Niagara Region Wind Corp. was given the green light to move forward with its industrial wind turbine project in early November when the Ministry of the Environment issued its Renewable Energy Approval.

The project calls for 77 three-megawatt turbines to be built in West Lincoln, Lincoln and Wainfleet. The total development has a capacity of 230 MW, enough to power 70,000 homes and make it the fifth-largest wind farm in North America. Continue reading Wind turbine appeal to be heard in “Wellandport” (not Smithville) →

Adverse Health Effects, Appeal NRWC Wind Project, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Health Canada's wind Turbine Noise and Health Study

Mothers appeal turbine approval

Leave a comment

NRWC given green light to erect 77 turbines

WEST LINCOLN — Despite government approval, a group of West Lincoln resident continues to fight impending industrial wind turbines.

Mothers appeal turbine approval Toronto Star photo Mothers Against Wind Turbines has filed an appeal against by Niagara Region Wind Corp.plans to erect 77 wind turbines, the majority of which will be located in West Lincoln.
Mothers appeal turbine approval
Toronto Star photo
Mothers Against Wind Turbines has filed an appeal against by Niagara Region Wind Corp.plans to erect 77 wind turbines, the majority of which will be located in West Lincoln.

Earlier this month the provincial government gave the green light to a wind farm planned by Niagara Region Wind Corp. The company plans to erect 77 wind turbines with the majority located in the township. Mothers Against Wind Turbines Inc. is doing anything but accepting the approval and has filed an appeal the project.

The appellants allege they have several grounds to prove the proposed project will cause “serious and irreversible harm to plants, animals and the natural environment” — which is what the tribunal can make decisions based on. MAWT alleges the project could harm butterflies and an endangered tree species within the project study area. They say that studies on both by the proponent are incomplete and that site surveys for several natural features were not conducted.

The group also alleges the project will harm human health, alleging that more than 600 people will be experience negative health effects from the turbines and that the project is a violation of rights granted to all Canadians under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Continue reading Mothers appeal turbine approval →

Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Health Canada's wind Turbine Noise and Health Study

Update: constitutional wind turbine court case

Leave a comment
imagesThe Canadian Charter of Rights Constitutional court case re industrial wind turbines was heard in London Divisional Court last week from Monday – Thursday. (was extended into Thursday)  A panel of 3 judges heard the case and indicated they need to take enough time on the decision to ensure due diligence.  There were no references to decision timelines on the appeal.  The decision on the “stay” request of stopping the projects until a decision is made might possibly be sooner as the judge asked when the turbine blades would start turning and the answer was that turbine testing would begin in January.
 .
The Coalition Against Industrial Wind Turbines (CAIWT) lawyer, Richard Macklin, was allowed 15 minutes for his oral presentation in support of the appeal on Monday but no decision was made on whether the coalition would be allowed as intervenors so that decision will come out with the final decision. The coalition argued that various procedures in the Renewable Energy Approvals and the Environmental Review Tribunal appeal process are unconstitutional because they do not protect the health of the community. Some issues presented were: the Director issues wind project approvals without considering health; appeals must be heard and the decision out in 6 months which is a very short a time to hear all the evidence on a serious issue; adjournments are sparingly granted (none granted here); the bar is set too high when we have to prove that the project will cause serious harm to human health; the onus is on those appealing that the project will cause serious harm; and community groups do not have the resources for these appeals whereas the opponents are well resourced. Despite the importance of the issues in these appeals, no group in the coalition can afford to hire counsel on its own, hence the coalition. The coalition also shows that not just people living in the project areas of this appeal are affected but communities all over rural Ontario are being affected.
.
So in the meantime, we wait for the decision. Whoever wins, there will likely be an appeal to the Supreme Court.

. Continue reading Update: constitutional wind turbine court case →