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MSU, U of M may conduct wind turbine health effects study

Huron Daily Tribune|Traci L. Weisenbach|August 5, 2009
MichiganImpact on PeopleNoise

During last week's meeting of the Huron County Wind Energy Subcommittee, which was formed to address complaints about wind turbines from residents, Huron County Commissioner Kurt Damrow said a teleconference will take place in the near future, although a date has yet to be determined. Huron County Health Department officials, along with some members of the subcommittee, will discuss the protocol of a health study with the universities. Previous studies on the subject will be reviewed to determine their applicability to Huron County.


HURON COUNTY - County officials soon will meet with representatives from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan to discuss the possibility of doing a study on how wind turbines affect people's health.

During last week's meeting of the Huron County Wind Energy Subcommittee, which was formed to address complaints about wind turbines from residents, Huron County Commissioner Kurt Damrow said a teleconference will take place in the near future, although a date has yet to be determined. Huron County Health Department officials, along with some members of the subcommittee, will discuss the protocol of a health study with the universities. Previous studies on the subject will be reviewed to determine their applicability to …

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HURON COUNTY - County officials soon will meet with representatives from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan to discuss the possibility of doing a study on how wind turbines affect people's health.

During last week's meeting of the Huron County Wind Energy Subcommittee, which was formed to address complaints about wind turbines from residents, Huron County Commissioner Kurt Damrow said a teleconference will take place in the near future, although a date has yet to be determined. Huron County Health Department officials, along with some members of the subcommittee, will discuss the protocol of a health study with the universities. Previous studies on the subject will be reviewed to determine their applicability to Huron County.

Damrow, who leads the subcommittee, said it will be a great opportunity to have both universities working together on a health study, and he's pleased the universities are willing to discuss it.

"How far we go with it - we won't know that until we talk," he said.

Huron County Commissioner Dave Peruski said he has talked with U.S. Rep. Candice Miller and a representative from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin's office about the possibility of the universities receiving grants to do the health study.

The Huron County Health Department previously indicated it was not interested in leading the health study because of a lack of resources.

People who have health issues related to turbines near their property and those who live near turbines and don't have related health issues would need to be included in the health study, according to the health department.

In other business at last week's meeting, the subcommittee reviewed a letter to be sent to Ubly area residents who live near the Michigan Wind I project and have submitted concerns about negative effects they've experienced from the wind turbines. The letter lets people know where to submit further information and informs them of the possibility of a health study.

The letter will be sent very soon, Damrow said.

"I think we have a pretty good letter put together here," he said.

He said the letter gives concerned families an understanding of where the subcommittee is at in addressing wind turbine concerns.

"This hopefully will give them peace of mind ... that we are working toward a resolution," he said.

Also during the subcommittee meeting, Huron County Building and Zoning Director Russ Lundberg presented examples of language used in zoning ordinances and complaint resolutions dealing with wind turbine complaints. He collected the example language from the state's energy office, a portion of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, and from other communities across the country.

Lundberg said a general requirement regarding a wind turbine complaint resolution could be adopted via zoning ordinance. A wind farm developer would be required to submit a resolution process with a project application. This procedure would be reviewed and accepted by the Huron County Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners.

"It has the effect of law," Lundberg said of an ordinance provision.

He said the question is how much language to include in the ordinance. Keeping the language general in the ordinance, and including a more detailed plan to resolve conflicts in the form of a resolution, is what he recommended. He said it would be easier to modify a resolution, if needed, than it would be to modify an ordinance.

Lundberg noted a zoning ordinance would not be retroactive, therefore, any new provision regarding wind turbines would not apply to Michigan Wind I or Harvest Wind Farm near Elkton. He said while a complaint resolution procedure could be developed to review concerns brought on by Michigan Wind I, it would have to follow the intent of the ordinance in effect when the project was approved. In the case of Michigan Wind I, it initially was approved in November 2005.

According to Lundberg, the framework for the complaint resolution process, if adopted by resolution, would serve as a step-by-step process when reviewing complaints. While a resolution isn't as enforceable as an ordinance, the procedure could be used as a guideline in the Michigan Wind I situation. It also would be used for future projects as a follow-up to any complaints.

In other discussion at the subcommittee meeting, Doug Duimering of John Deere Wind said Epsilon Associates of Massachusetts has been hired to conduct a noise study of local wind turbines. Duimering said Epsilon recommends waiting until September, when winds are stronger, to begin the study. He said August is the quietest wind month of the year.

David Peplinski, one Ubly area resident who has experienced noise issues with the Michigan Wind I project, said it doesn't have to be windy for there to be turbine noise. He talked about a recent incident in which turbine noise woke his family up in the middle of the night, and the winds were calm. He said he is logging the time and date of noise occurrences and the wind direction.

Duimering said Peplinski's information, as well as information from other residents experiencing noise issues, will help in the noise study.

John Deere's noise study is being done to comply with the county zoning ordinance, which requires wind farm developers provide a post-construction certification that the project complies with applicable codes and industry practices.

Also during the subcommittee meeting, Damrow talked about meetings he and Lundberg have had with wind farm developers, including John Deere Wind, DTE Energy, Heritage Renewal Energy and RES-Americas. Each developer is conducting feasibility studies and is proposing wind park projects in Huron County.

The goals of the meetings, Lundberg said, is to learn more about the possible projects and to inform the developers of concerns the county has regarding wind projects.

Damrow said he and Lundberg are hearing from developers what they would like to see and not see regarding wind farm development standards.

"We're learning a lot about both sides of the issue," Damrow said.

He said there is another benefit of meeting with wind farm developers: They are able to open doors for the county in connecting with companies that manufacture wind turbines. He said some real job opportunities could come with the manufacturing of turbine gears and parts. He said he's working with Carl Osentoski, Huron County Economic Development Corporation executive director, on making connections with wind turbine manufacturers.

Damrow said being proactive is necessary when trying to find new opportunities for the county.

"We can't sit and wait for jobs to come to Huron County," he said.

In other discussion, Damrow and Peruski said they planned on finishing a presentation to submit this week to the state's Wind Energy Resource Zone Board (WERZB). The presentation was to include a recommendation for turbine setbacks. The WERZB will conduct a public hearing at 11 a.m. Aug. 24 at the Huron County Expo Center, where the presentation will be discussed.

According to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) website, the WERZB was established in December 2008 to issue a report that, among other things, identifies regions in the state with the "highest level of wind energy harvest potential." The WERZB identified the Thumb region as having the highest wind development potential in the board's Aug. 2 interim report.

The interim report was given to all the local units of government within the regions identified by the board as having the highest wind potential. As part of the comment and hearing process on the interim report, the board is consulting with local governments on various factors impacting wind farm development, such as specific zoning and other local requirements governing the siting and construction of wind turbines; expected community and public support for or opposition to wind energy development; operational impacts associated with the integration of wind energy systems into the existing electrical system; and economic or technological factors that may affect the timing, location and cost of development activities. Such information from local governments may help the board refine its approach in its final report, which it will submit to the MPSC.

The next Huron County Wind Energy Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday in the Huron County Board of Commissioners Office at the Huron County Building.


Source:http://www.michigansthumb.com…

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