www.windaction.org | Impact on People

BOARD OF HEALTH: Turbine study under way
March 21, 2013 by Kathryn Gallerani in Wicked Local Kingston

The Board of Health voted against taking action to shut down the turbines until the study has been completed, he said, and that vote still stands. That decision, he added, was based on the board's concern that such a vote would put the town's contract with the turbine owner at risk without scientific evidence. "This study will determine whether that turbine is compliant," Casna said.

Also filed under [ Massachusetts]

To vote, or not to vote: Cape Vincent seasonal voters faced with a dilemma
March 21, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily News

The registration change by the Fischers and hundreds of other seasonal residents helped re-elect Supervisor Urban C. Hirschey and replaced pro-wind councilmen, with ties to wind lease holders, with past members of an anti-wind turbine group. But the Fischers paid a price. They lost up to $400 in STAR (School Tax Relief) rebates at their residence in Canandaigua.

Also filed under [ New York]

Conditions placed on proposed wind farm; Permit granted after hours of debate
March 21, 2013 by Ken de la Bastide in Kokomo Tribune

The Prairie Breeze Wind Farm will be allowed to move forward, as long as its developers guarantee it won't diminish property values and turbines are built at least 1,500 feet from property lines. ...the guarantee of property values is telling juwi to "put up or shut up."

Also filed under [ Property Values| Indiana]

Industrial Wind Turbines: Scars on the rural landscape
March 21, 2013 by Denny Manchee in Watershed Magazine

"In Ontario, Canada, there is a suspension of critical appraisal and due process regarding industrial wind turbines. The lack of confidence in the political and regulatory systems will persist if governments and industry continue to deny the existence of adverse impacts from human exposure to industrial wind turbines...The negative psychological effect of disempowerment interacting with the adverse health effects attributed to industrial wind turbines has intensified the negative synergy of justice lost."

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| Canada]

Wind farm critics insist health damage real
March 20, 2013 by Chris Hyde in Manawatu Standard

The Australian study had a few valid points but in drawing such a strong conclusion, it was skirting the truth, he said. "...it looked to me as though they [the study's authors] had set out to prove something," Mr Low said. "They had an idea of what they wanted to ‘prove' and sure enough they ‘proved' it."

Also filed under [ Australia / New Zealand]

Ontario researcher blows off claim anti-wind-farm activism causes Wind Turbine Syndrome
March 19, 2013 by Jessica Smith in Metro News

Five years ago Krogh began researching Wind Turbine Syndrome and reaching out to other people who have become ill. She said their symptoms are caused by wind turbine noise, including audible noise and inaudible infrasound. In many cases, it's the noise and vibrations that keep people up at night, taking a serious toll on their health.

Also filed under [ Noise| Canada]

Ill wind divides midlands
March 18, 2013 by Michael Clifford in The Irish Examiner

Plans to construct more than 2,000 wind turbines in the Midlands have already angered locals and will divide farmers. People are mobilising and getting ready to stand up to the plans, writes Michael Clifford

Also filed under [ Ireland]

Families bid to sue wind farm operator
March 18, 2013 by Michael Clifford in The Irish Examiner

The seven families from Banteer claim they have been severely impacted, particularly through noise pollution, since the turbines began operating in Nov 2011. If the action is successful, it is expected to lead to a number of others on similar grounds. Already, cases are being prepared by householders in Wexford and Roscommon.

Also filed under [ Ireland]

Academic slams anti-wind farm concerns
March 18, 2013 by Sean McComish in The Standard

A report released last week from the University of New South Wales found that health complaints from wind farms had become prevalent after 2009 ...Southern Grampians Landscape Guardians member Keith Staff said “There are 20 people across the south-west, including Waubra who have evacuated their homes ...We are very objective and I reject anyone who infers that we are scaremongering.”

Also filed under [ Australia / New Zealand]

Wind farm property impact hard to define; Expert says buyers may be harder to come by
March 17, 2013 by Scott Smith in Kokomo Tribune

In Tipton County, developers juwi Wind Energy say there's no data to support the contention that wind farms affect property values. But even the authors of the only comprehensive U.S. study on the subject, a 2009 U.S. Department of Energy-funded look at more than 7,000 properties near wind farms, weren't willing to go that far.

Also filed under [ Property Values| Indiana]

Going inside Kingston's shadow-flicker zone
March 16, 2013 by Bradford Randall in Kingston Journal

Middle-school student Brian Reilly says he can't play basketball on Leland Road when the strobing effect from the Kingston Wind Independence (KWI) Turbine's shadow flicker is at full throttle. "I get a wicked bad headache so I have to go inside," Brian told the Journal as he stood on the front steps of his neighbors house.

Also filed under [ Noise| Shadow flicker| Massachusetts]

Concern over wind farms and fires
March 13, 2013 by Tiffany Grange in Yass Tribune

Aeroplanes couldn't fly within one kilometre of a stationary turbine, and weren't allowed within five kilometres down wind of a moving turbine. Wind farm company Epuron said turbines wouldn't stop fire fighting aircraft from assisting during an emergency.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| Australia / New Zealand]

Crowds spill over during heated Navitus Bay wind farm debate
March 12, 2013 by Katie Clark in Daily Echo

The meeting, organised by Highcliffe Community Association and chaired by Dorset County Councillor Alan Griffiths, heard from both the wind farm developer Navitus Bay Development Ltd and opposition group Challenge Navitus.

Also filed under [ UK]

Councillors raise concerns over wind turbine development
March 12, 2013 in Dorset Echo

Fears have been raised by councillors over a wind turbine development that could lead to ‘open season' for Dorset. Puddletown parish councillors voiced strong concerns at a meeting over the proposed nine-turbine complex.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| UK]

Results of state sound testing at Therrien property delayed
March 12, 2013 by Amy Ash Nixon in Caledonian Record

At last week's annual town meeting, Steve Therrien submitted a letter to the Sheffield Select Board, stating: "As we see it the town is benefiting at our expense. Our home has become toxic and uninhabitable. The town needs to do the right thing to take care of the residents impacted."

Also filed under [ Noise| Vermont]

Picturesque village is facing wind farm 'catastrophe'
March 11, 2013 by Auslan Cramb in The Telegraph

"However, the area is now under imminent threat from wind farm developers. Separate plans from five different companies, if allowed to go ahead, would see the village encircled in a virtual ring of steel, which would devastate the local environment and put the villagers' way of life in peril."

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| UK]

MPP asks Premier to put an end win energy project
March 10, 2013 in CTV News

It's a green energy proposal that has torn apart Perth County communities. Invenergy Canada has a contract to build up to 27 wind turbines in North Perth and Perth East. Now a Perth-Wellington's MPP is asking the premier to use her power to intervene.

Also filed under [ Canada]

Wind farm complaints prompt review of rules
March 10, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette

Michael Creech had planned to retire at the family homestead, a two-story farmhouse among square miles of farmland east of Hope in western Vermilion County. But he said he's changed his mind ...mostly because of the noise. There are three different noises, a whooshing sound from the blades turning, a droning noise that he compares to a jet engine, and noise from the motors when the turbines change position.

Also filed under [ Noise| Illinois]

Where the wind blows
March 9, 2013 in The Economist

But in Britain, a crowded and windy island with high rates of home ownership and an appealingly romantic view of its landscape, the conflict is exceptionally rancorous. It has also, unusually, become a national issue.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| UK]

Board of Health takes no action on sound level meter request
March 9, 2013 by Kathryn Gallerani in Wicked Local Kingston

Board of Health Chairman Joe Casna said this week that the board has taken no vote, nor acted on any motion by any member of the board, to direct the health agent to acquire a loaner meter.

Also filed under [ Noise| Massachusetts]