Category Archives: Health

Adverse Health Effects, Green Energy, Health, Health effects from wind turbines, Noise

Deniers in Wind Industry

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hear-no-evil

The human health consequences of manipulated measurements

Science deniers in the wind industry

By: Helen Schwiesow Parker, PhD, LCP

Like the tobacco industry before it, the wind industry has spent decades vehemently denying known harmful consequences associated with its product, while promoting its fraudulent feel-good image. Dismissing or denying the serious health impacts of industrial-scale wind turbines is wishful thinking, akin to insisting that tobacco is harmless because we enjoy it.

The problem with wind energy is not just its costly, subsidized, unreliable electricity; the need to back up every megawatt with redundant fossil-fuel power; or its impacts on wildlife and their habitats.

Infrasound (inaudible) and low-frequency (audible) noise (slowly vibrating sound waves collectively referred to as ILFN) produced by Industrial-scale Wind Turbines (IWTs) directly and predictably cause adverse human health effects.  The sonic radiation tends to be amplified within structures, and sensitivity to the impact of the resonance increases with continuing exposure.

These facts have been known to the wind industry and the US government since the 1980s when it became a ‘hot topic,’ with numerous studies presented and published by acousticians working under grants from the Departments of Energy, Defense and NASA. The wind industry response?

Deny the science.  Insist that “what you can’t hear can’t hurt you.” Claim that “neighbors will get used to it.” Measure only outside dwellings, and allow only noise measurements in the field that reflect the relative loudness perceived by the human ear, while drastically reducing sound-level readings in the lower frequencies that are known to cause problems……….

Read More: http://canadafreepress.com/article/science-deniers-in-the-wind-industry

 

Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, Environment, ERT Appeal, Green Energy, Health, legal challenges

Bat remedy hearing concludes

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brown-bat

Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson demands to know why wind power developers get a remedy hearing on endangered bats when harm has been proven. Minister Murray replied he would have to resign if he intervenes in the independence of the Environmental Tribunal process but it is the Green Energy Act that allows wind projects to be approved. Under the Green Energy Act the Minister has authority to intervene.  The Minister to resign over the harm caused by wind projects?  What an interesting idea!

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Turbine Hearing Concludes

Collingwood | by Catherine Thompson  

yet more submissions in long-running case

A hearing to do with a wind turbine proposal near Stayner took one day instead of three.

The Environmental Review Tribunal allowed WPD Canada to have a Remedy Hearing to present ways to reduce harm to natural heritage, mainly the Little Brown Bat.

The hearing, held in Collingwood council chambers, was originally to start on Monday, but that day was cancelled because a witness was unavailable. The hearing, on Tuesday, heard from three witnesses.

Dr. Scott Reynolds, presenting for WPD Canada, via Skype, says they would slow down the turbine speed when bats are in the air in an effort to decrease the number of bat deaths.

The second witness, Susan Holroyd, a wildlife biologist specializing in bats, appeared by Skype, on the appellant, Preserve Clearview’s side.

The third and last witness was Ecologist Sarah Mainguy, also for the opponent’s side. She told the hearing there are huge uncertainties in this application such as the number of bats and their exact route in the areas of the turbines. She added that the mitigation suggestions from WPD Canada are not good enough.

Witnesses and lawyers could not comment on the hearing proceedings, but Chuck Magwood of Preserve Clearview, was in the audience.  He says he agrees with their witnesses that one dead Little Brown Bat, which is an endangered species, is too many.

WPD has until March 31st to make written submissions, the opponents have four weeks to reply and then another two weeks for WPD to rebut the reply, taking the latest round in the turbine discussions to May 12th.

Magwood says he expects a decision by the Environmental Review Tribunal in June.

READ AT: http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=91434

 

Children Affected, Environment, Health, Noise

Looking for Noise Solutions at Port Ryerse Wind

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Port Ryerse Wind is located on the shores of Lake Erie in southern Ontario and is owned by Boralex: (http://www.boralex.com/projects/portryerse) The project has been allowed to be built, operated  and continues to faces strong opposition.  Four Siemens SWT 3.0 113 wind turbine generators began operating in December 2016.  The project already has generated multiple noise complaints from the villagers. Even one of the lease holder hosting a turbine has admitted the noise was louder than anticipated.  READ HERE: https://mothersagainstturbines.com/2017/02/17/boralex-faces-angry-port-ryerse-residents/ 

The project was granted approval by the Ontario government to disturb and intrude upon the first documented nesting site of barn owls in Ontario known in over 5 years. The turbine blades sweep perilous close to an eagle pair and their established nesting territory.  It is just a matter of time for the next Eagle death in Ontario due to wind turbines to occur.  The time is now to stop harming human health and the environment from wind project installations.

February 25, 2017

In response to the media reports of the February 15, 2017 Community Liaison Committee meeting…

As a participant to filling-out Boralex Noise Complaint Forms, there is a serious need to strive toward a solution with the noise generated by the Port Ryerse wind-farm.

One has to give their head a shake as to why four wind turbines were plunked in the middle of the communities of Avalon, Hay Creek and Port Ryerse. As reported, depending on weather and where one lives, the annoying turbine noise in these communities is constant, loud, with serious and confusing audible phasing in certain areas. Residents are quite upset, as they fought against the Ontario Government and lost, and now they are faced with the frustrations experienced by the day-and-night-time noise.

As reported in the media, there was hate witnessed and expressed toward Boralex, their turbine partners, and the Ontario Government at this meeting. An invasion of any sort can spur hatred, and hatred will eat people up inside. Especially over time!

Hate is a powerful word, but in this case it can hold true, as there is a medical term that can be attributed to this hatred; “MISOPHONIA” HATRED of NOISE. Clear test results show that it affects the anterior insula, which physically affects amygdala, hippocampus, and frontal cortex creating permanent brain changes by an increase in the myelin wrapping of neurons. In other words, (hard wiring) of the brain to the noise which created this condition.

Think what damage can be done to a child’s brain, when that child grows-up in the environment of wind turbine noise.

This growing psychosis within our communities was created firstly, by those who dreamed of a financial coup by offering up their land to wind turbines. Secondly by a government that took away the voice of the people in order to obtain their objective by implementing the now “halted” Green Energy Act, and thirdly by a company which capitalized on the opportunities presented.

After 500 people had signed a petition, and fought for five years at the Tribunals against the proposal, the communities are now left only with the noise invasion and the reduction in property values.

What SOLUTIONS can be achieved to reduce the noise? Start monitoring right now, when the leaves are off the trees. Not later. Return the voice of the people to our municipal government, by partnering municipal support with concerned residents in an independent monitoring study with clear lines-of-sight to receptors in order to refute, or agree with government findings. The objectives would be to reduce noise to levels agreed upon by the community rate-payers and to enforce the municipal noise bylaws by trimming the pitch on the turbine blades to lessen their impact against the wind, thus reducing the levels of noise and hate. The Provincial Government would then compensate Boralex for their financial loss in energy production, as found in… (Hansard page G-518, last paragraph) “The study found problems and the closest turbine at 456m shut down permanently, the next nearest turbine at 700m, along with three others now run at low rpm so that they’re not emitting as much noise, and then they shut them down at night”.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources the Port Ryerse Wind Farm is allowed to kill 2 Raptors in one year and no more than 10 bats per turbine in the same year before adjustments to slow down the turbines would ever take place. Another plus for trimming the pitch on the turbines is that it would provide a measure of safety for the immature Bald Eagles within the wind farm if we act soon enough! One Bald Eagle killed will destroy the chances of future successful nestings!!

RW Goodlet
Port Ryerse

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ADAM GOODLET

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Scottish Wind Power Company Attempts to Cover Up Turbine Collapse

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stopthesethings's avatarSTOP THESE THINGS

For their eyes only: another ‘rare’ turbine collapse.

***

What’s notable about this story is not that a 160 tonne turbine collapsed without warning, nor is it the effort by the wind power outfit’s spin doctor to pretend that this is the first time a 90m tower has taken a tumble to terra firma (a line we demolish, so to speak, below).

No, what is remarkable is their effort to keep a lid on the collapse, only acknowledging it 7 days after the event, and then only because neighbours kicked up a stink.

Safety probe launched after collapse of 480-foot wind turbine in Ayrshire
Daily Record
Stephen Housten
29 January 2017

ENERGY chiefs have launched an urgent probe following the collapse of the 160-ton turbine.

The catastrophic collapse of a giant wind turbine is being investigated.

A 480-foot high turbine came down in a storm – only the second windmill…

View original post 902 more words

Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, Health, Noise

forced to give up his dog and home tormented by noise from wind project.

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“Retired farmer Clifton Lockhart, 83, has lived in the house for 35 years but says the noise of the turbines has kept him wide awake.”

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Communities Quality of Life and Amenity

We will support proposals if: They do not have significant detrimental effect on the amenity of nearby residents, including from noise and shadow flicker.

The potential of wind turbines through noise, shadow flicker and visual effects to create significant long term impacts on the amenity of an area , well being and quality of life of people living or working near to them is of significant concern to local communities and residents within South Ayrshire…..

Supplementary Guidance:Wind Energy (South-Ayrshire, UK): http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/documents/adopted%20wind%20energy-supplementary%20guidance.pdf

Carrick pensioner forced to give up dog and move to caravan after wind farm hell

A pensioner claims he has been forced to give up his dog and relocate to a caravan just to get a decent night’s sleep because he is tormented by the noise from a wind farm opposite his home.

Clifton Lockhart, 83, has lived in Tralodden Cottage near Old Dailly for the past 35 years, but says his golden years have been robbed from him since the turbines arrived 14 years ago and he has since been kept wide awake most nights.

The retired farmer, who is unable to read or write, told the Post he feels “pushed out of his own home” when the noise persists and now rents a caravan in Port William just to get a decent night’s sleep following a decade-long dispute with South Ayrshire Council and SSE wind farm bosses.

At his home, he said: “I have complained to South Ayrshire Council and SSE made a deal about switching the turbines off from 7pm to 10am every day, but that didn’t last long.

I then complained again to South Ayrshire Council that SSE had gone back on the deal, but I have been put through so many loops and the matter is still not resolved.

“For the past 10 years it has constantly bothered me and never gone away, it sounds like an aircraft landing when the wind picks up.

“I have had to leave my home on many occasions, people have been out to conduct their own tests but nothing has been done, I allowed them to put monitors in my house and garden but nothing changes.”

Clifton, who lives alone and uses a walking stick, now feels he will eventually be forced to move from the home he hoped to spend his final days in.

He added: “I had to give up my dog Otter a few years ago to a shelter which broke my heart. He would run off to the turbines and start barking when they were noisy, it was clear he was distressed by them and it just wasn’t fair to hold onto him any more.

“I have now came to terms with the fact this noise might not ever stop, I’ve already had to alter so much of my life quality because of these turbines, and I am concerned that I may have to pack up my life here and move.

“It has been so stressful and I feel I am being forced out of my own home.”

READ MORE: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/carrick-pensioner-forced-give-up-9859771

 

Adverse Health Effects, fighting big wind., Health, Noise

Boralex faces angry Port Ryerse residents

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port-ryerse-protest
Residents protested long and hard to stop the wind turbines in Port Ryerse. The battle now is focused on the newly built and operational project. Disruptive noise and other complaints are being raised about the negative impacts to quality of life in the small tight- knit village. Boralex faces a chorus of similar complaints arising from its larger Niagara Wind project also located on the shores of Lake Erie, Ontario.

An Earful Over Wind Turbine Noise

Monte Sonnenberg.
Simcoe Reformer.
February 16, 2017

The company that brought a four-turbine wind farm to Port Ryerse last year got an earful about noise levels at a community meeting this week.

Boralex officials were on the hot seat Wednesday as 40 people from the Port Ryerse area had at them in a committee room at the Simcoe Recreation Centre.

The occasion was a bi-annual meeting Boralex has agreed to have with its neighbours. Also attending were members of the Port Ryerse Community Liaison Committee.

“It’s very loud and it’s very upsetting,” Port Ryerse resident Shana Greatrex told the gathering. “Our whole village has been affected. This is something we warned about a long time ago and no one did anything about it.”

Village residents were surprised when one of the property owners who agreed to host a turbine said his neighbours aren’t imagining things.

“I’m surprised I can hear them as loud as I do, and I wear an earpiece,” said Wally Faulkner. “They’re louder than I expected.”

Comments at this week’s meeting are consistent with complaints across the province that wind turbines are noisy, disruptive and interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of property.

In telling her story, Gail Lyons started off calm enough. However, the bitterness she feels came through loud and clear in her words.

Lyons told the gathering she lives across the road from “one of these pieces of crap that I hate” and that she is often awakened in the middle of the night because her bed is shaking.

“This is not about business or money,” Lyons said. “This is about people. Put your money where your mouth is. Perhaps you could turn them off at night so we can sleep and sit on our back decks in peace.”

Some Port Ryerse residents dread the arrival of the warm weather and the impact the turbines might have once they open their windows. They are especially upset because a community coalition warned for years that the turbines would have a negative impact on their quality of life.

The firm Aercoustics will conduct a first round of noise tests in the weeks ahead. The meeting heard it could take the better part of a year to arrive at a scientific conclusion about noise levels.

“People’s quality of life is being affected now,” said Port Ryerse resident Scott Pullen. “Why do we have to wait for months? It’s disgusting, and it’s criminal.”

Aercoustics representative Payam Ashtiani said the province doesn’t expect wind turbines to be noise-free. He added the Ministry of the Environment has concerns about ambient noise levels once they reach 40 decibels.

Boralex representative Adam Rosso was on the firing line for much of the two-hour meeting. Acting as a facilitator was Toronto moderator Karla Kolli. Kolli intervened on several occasions to keep the discussion moving in a constructive direction.

“It’s disappointing on my side,” Rosso said after the meeting adjourned. “As a good corporate citizen we’re trying to integrate these turbines into the community. There has been some positive feedback and that gives me comfort. No one would relish a conversation where there is an ideological difference with what we do. But we will continue striving to be good corporate citizens.”

Farmer Chris Van Paassen lives on Radical Road near the turbines. He’s a member of the community liaison committee.

Van Paassen places the blame for the anger in his neighbourhood on the Liberal government at Queen’s Park. The Liberals stripped municipalities of planning authority on green energy projects several years ago.

“One of the first smell tests you do with a development is ask whether it complements the atmosphere of the community,” Van Paassen said. “These turbines do not meet the smell test. You might add that the people in Toronto can’t smell it where they’re from. But that’s where these decisions are being made.”

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com

READ AT: http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2017/02/16/an-earful-over-turbine-noise

Destruction from turbines, Environment, Green Energy, Uncategorized

Tree Cutting Penalty. A Licence to Kill?

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Cedar-Point-Trees-cut-3-1024x768.jpg
Site of unauthorized clear cutting that occurred during construction of Cedar Wind. Lambton County, Ontario

Taking down trees even those under provincial protection is occurring in multiple wind projects and punitive fines are less than a tap on the wrist for offenders.  Cedar Wind construction removed trees and the cost was a mere pittance.

Niagara Wind destroyed well over 7 000 trees including individual trees  estimated to be centuries old including tree species at risk.

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Old growth tree one of many removed for Niagara Wind. West Lincoln, Ontario

Presentation on trees removed  at Niagara Wind:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1widGvicaK-VA1XXB4xC1OBtMlWopYG281sa94LKdktY/edit#slide=id.p3

WPD Wild Turkey Road
Clear cutting for wind development on ecological sensitive and protected Oak Ridges Moraines (head waters location supplying greater Toronto area)

 

Lambton landowner handed $6,000 fine in high- profile woodlot clearing case

By: Barbara Simpson  Sarnia Observer  Published: February 15, 2017

If trees are illegally cut in a woodlot and a fine of a few thousand dollars is handed out, is that enough to deter a landowner from clear-cutting again?

That’s the question several Lambton County politicians are raising after learning the details of the penalty the county leveled at a landowner for removing more trees than permitted during the construction of a Cedar Point wind turbine in 2015.

The high-profile case of clear-cutting – which involved an acre of trees in Lambton Shores – resulted in a fine of $6,000 for the private landowner. That amount was paid in full to the county in early 2016.

While mistakes are bound to happen, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said Wednesday the dollar amount of the penalty was not “punitive.”

“In James Bond, they say it’s a licence to kill. This is a licence to cut.”

READ AT: http://www.theobserver.ca/2017/02/15/lambton-landowner-handed-6000-fine-in-high-profile-woodlot-clearing-case

Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, Environment, harm to wildlife, Health, Health effects from wind turbines

Hoosac Wind- We are prisoners in our house

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hoosac-wind-turbineHoosac Wind has destroyed a wild place and created ongoing community division.  Initially supportive of wind power  Larry Lorusso shares his experience of living adjacent to the project.  His goal is to protect the environment from the dangers of wind power.  Using his talents for storytelling and photography he conveys the  negative impacts of the wind project and illustrates how noise from the wind turbines has impacted his health and that of his family.

To learn more  visit Hoosac Wind Watch  https://www.facebook.com/HoosacWindWatch/ 

By MATT LINDSEY

PARISHVILLE — A Massachusetts photographer warned about 60 St. Lawrence County residents last night about what he sees as the potential dangers and disadvantages of the North Ridge Wind Farm, which has divided the community.

Presenter Larry Lorusso, who lives about one mile from Hoosac Wind Farm, located in Massachusetts, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the turnout last night, even though a storm dropped about a foot of snow over much of the North Country. The meeting was held at the town hall.

Avangrid, the developer of the proposed North Ridge Wind Farm between State Rts. 11B and 72 in Parishville and Hopkinton, is looking to install around 40 wind towers — as high as 500 feet tall from the bases to the blade tips. Dozens of people have signed leases to allow the windmills on their land.

The controversial wind towers have created rifts between family and friends in Hopkinton, Parishville and the surrounding areas. When he heard about the proposed product he reached out to locals and wanted to educate people, he said.

Lorusso will present a slideshow at the county Legislature’s Services Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the county courthouse. He has been allotted 20 minutes for his presentation.

“I have nothing to gain,” he said, about why he travelled to the North Country to speak about wind towers. “Who better to know what is going on than someone who has them in their backyard?”

Lorusso said he supported the wind towers based on what Iberdrola, an energy company based in Spain, had told him. Avangrid, a subsidiary of Iberdrola, is heading the project in Hopkinton and Parishville.

“They told us it was going to help the environment – it doesn’t,” Lorusso said. “Wind towers are not the answer to green energy.”

Based on his experience living one mile from wind turbines, Lorusso became a community activist and documented through photography and stories and is sharing that with other communities considering installing wind towers.

“These are being sold to us that they are saving the environment,” he said. “I am not anti-wind, I am pro-environment.”

Lorusso documented the land prior to the installation, the installation process and what has come of it since wind towers were installed.

He describes his land as an “enchanted forest” with “little impacts from humans.”

“There were mountain alterations of beautiful land – they wrecked it,” Lorusso said. “There used to be wildlife sign and wildlife – all gone.”

Lorusso said the noises range from ringing in ears, to the sound of a helicopter hovering or a jet engine that never takes off. But, he says the vibrations are the worst part.

“The worse is not what you see or hear, it’s what you feel,” he said. “I can feel my head pulsing — I can put my hand on my windows and feel them vibrating.”

Lorusso said he, his wife and neighbors developed several medical issues since the towers were installed near his home about four years ago. He says the issues include heart problems, high blood pressure, and sinus issues.

“They have not been able to determine the source of my wife’s sinus issues,” he said, noting that it was not a sinus infection.

He says he has sleepless nights at home, but slept well during his stay in St. Lawrence County.

“I wake up in a state of anxiety – on the edge of fear,” he said. “Yesterday and today were the first days in months that I haven’t woken up anxious.”

And then there is the ringing in the ears.

“It’s never quiet, even when it’s quiet,” he said.

Lorusso said the issues have driven some people away from their homes. “People abandoned their homes, they just left.”

Lorusso is determined to stay and fight against the wind tower company.

“We are prisoners in our own house – it’s sad,” he said.

Published in NCNowNews on February 13, 2017:  http://northcountrynow.com/news/massachusetts-photographer-travels-st-lawrence-county-warn-officials-and-locals-concerning

 

Cost Benefit, Direct Effects, Government Misrepresentation, Green Energy, Health, Uncategorized

Toolkit for Turbines

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house-surrounded-by-wind-turbines“Pressures to stop (new) wind energy production in Ontario have increased significantly since the controversial GEA. “

Opposition to wind turbines is facing a growing resistance not just in Ontario but globally. The acceptance and excitement over using an alternative way to generate electricity has  given way to the bitter nightmare  faced by abutting residents who are adversely impacted by these massive and intrusive structures. Courts worldwide are increasingly rendering decisions to compensate families and individuals who have been harmed.

The Toolkit document opines (give it a read and try not to choke on the obvious) as to why a few (smaller) turbines in a less densely populated rural area will meet with less resistance than clusters of hundreds (increasingly larger machines) placed adjacent to towns and settled areas.   It is suggested that entering into a more intimate relationship with wind development will mitigate the harms of not being able to give consent.

This is a false and misleading conclusion as landowners who host wind turbines have given witness that they too were harmed even when money was received.

“The ultimate goal is fairer and much less divisive turbine facility siting outcomes when governments and communities themselves decide that turbine development is the policy path they wish to pursue.”  Toolkit for Turbines: Wind Energy Development in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada

Harm from wind power will not be remedied with the stated goal. The document fails to address a fundamental flaw in reasoning- which is to examine if turbines justify the negative documented outcomes. Simply put the wind turbines are not fit for purpose. To continue to pursue an energy policy that accepts inflicting harm on a few without remedy and without proven benefits for the greater good is wilful blindness.

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Protesters demonstrated in Oakville where Premier Kathleen Wynne was the guest speaker at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
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Have Your Say! Revision of Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006

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The Commissioner made it clear that the information should have been made available to the public before any decision was made by the Department. The Commissioner also pointed out that this would enable the public to make submissions before any decisions were made.It is a very sorry state of affairs when a Commissioner has to tell the government how democracy works. Hang your head, Minister Naughten, and off to the Naughty Corner you go.

Source: Have Your Say! Revision of Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006