The WindAction Group (www.windAction.org)
Dr. Sarah Laurie of the Waubra Foundation in Australia delivered these important comments to attendees at the Falmouth MA Human Rights Conference. A portion of Dr. Laurie's comments appear below. Her full set of comments can be accessed by clicking the links on this page.
In this letter to the Association of Australian Acoustical Consultants (AAAC), Dr. Alec Salt responds to the AAAC's position on wind turbine emissions and infrasound. In particular, Dr. Salt admonishes the AAAC for insisting that low-frequency sound emitted by turbines is no higher than infrasound levels measured at locations where other people live, work and sleep.
This document explains the preliminary results of an anonymous self-reporting survey administered to households located within 10 kilometers of the Macarthur Wind Energy facility located near Penshurst Township in Australia. The findings of the survey demonstrate a significant size of the population experiencing negative impacts from the project. Excerpts of the survey report can be found below. The full report, including a map of the impact area is available by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
This document explains the results of an anonymous self-reporting survey administered to households located within 10 kilometers of the Cullerin Range Wind Farm located north of Canberra Australia. The findings of the survey demonstrate a significant size of the population experiencing negative impacts from the project. Excerpts of the survey report can be found below. The full report, including a map of the impact area is available by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.
This open letter written by Mauri Johansson, MD, MHH, a specialist in Community and Occupational Medicine, reveals important information about the impacts of wind energy development on communities in Denmark and how these impacts are being exported to other countries.
Professor Colin Hansen of the University of Adelaide in South Australia authored this important critique where he explains that low-frequency noise produced by industrial scale wind turbines, in fact, does fall within the threashold of human hearing and can disturb sleep and lead to other possible adverse health effects.
This letter was submitted to the Victoria Department of Health in response to the Department's report entitled "Wind Farms, Sound and Health: Technical Information". Dr. Alex Salt critiques the report's assertions regarding inaudible noise and human health.
Dr. Steven Cooper, an Australian acoustician with considerable experience measuring wind turbine sound emissions, prepared this important and detailed critique of a study sponsored by the South Australia EPA on low-frequency noise. The SA EPA report insisted that infrasound emitted by wind turbines was not different from infrasound from other sources in the environment. Dr. Cooper exposes the fatal flaws in the EPA's methodology for surveying the sound. Excerpts of his critique are provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
The following speech was given on the floor of the Australian Parliament, House of Representatives, by the Member for Hume, Alby Schultz. Mr. Schultz addresses the failure of the Waubra wind farm and others to operate within the limits of their permits, the high cost and inefficient operation of wind turbines and, what he deems fraudulent issue of RECs to shell companies overseas.
David and Alida Mortimer host two Vestas 1.75 megawatt wind turbines in the Lake Bonney windfarm. Since the wind project went into service, he and his wife moved into a new farmhouse that they built away from the turbines. The new house is approximately 2.5 km from from a cluster of four turbines situated on his neighbor's property. The problem of noise has been significant. Mr. Mortimer filed this testimony before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal in reference to the Cherry Tree Wind Farm proposal. In his testimony, Mr. Mortimer details the disruptions and health complaints he and his wife are experiencing as a result of the turbines.
These important comments prepared by Dr. Michael Nissenbaum respond to questions raised by the Australian Senate Environment & Communications committee during its inquiry into wind turbine noise. In particular, Dr. Nissenbaum explains how the 'nocebo' effect is not a factor and that health complaints reported by those living near large turbines are real and require attention.
This important paper by acoustics expert, Steven Cooper, challenges the current standards for siting wind turbines in Australia.
This peer-reviewed report written by the Acoustics Group in Australia evaluates the noise impact assessment for the Collector wind farm proposed to be built in New South Wales. The project will have up to 68 turbines but the turbine make and model is still undetermined. Three turbine makes and models were considered: Suzlon S88-2.1MW, V3; REpower 3.4M 104; Siemens SWT-2.3-101. The introduction and conclusion of the report is shown below. The full report, with appendices, can be accessed by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.
Australian acoustician Steven Cooper examines the responsibility of Members of the Australian Acoustical Society to a community where people are forced to leave their homes because of wind farm "noise". His technical note can be accessed by clicking at the links at the bottom of this page.
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Western Australia Senator Chris Back prepared this document in support of his essay “Wind Turbines – The Untold Story”. The document focuses on supporting the statement that "There is a growing body of evidence that adverse health impacts are real and that they are occurring at greater distances from turbines than previously recorded.” The conclusion of his report is provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking on the link(s) at the bottom of this page.
The government of South Australia issued two series of "Wind farms environmental noise guidelines" in 2003 and 2009, aiming to balance the advantage of wind energy development in South Australia with the protection of amenity of the surrounding commmity from adverse noise impacts. This briefing paper sums up a study undertaken during 2011 evaluating the efficiency and adequacy of these guidelines.
The Victoria Planning Provisions are undergoing amendments to account for wind energy development. Several key elements of the amendments are posted below. Three documents explaining the changes can be accessed by selecting the links at the bottom of this page. The changes prohibit the siting of turbines (a) within two kilometres of a existing dwellings unless written consent from the owner of the dwelling is provided, (b) in areas with high conservation and landscape values, and (c) locations that feature a high degree of amenity, environmental value, or are a significant tourist destination.
Lilli-Ann Green and Preston Ribnick prepared this summary of their trip to Australia where they interviewed dozens of people who have been profoundly adversely impacted by industrial wind turbines or are fighting the construction of wind turbines in their communities. Their report can be accessed by clicking the link on this page.
Dr. Daniel Shepherd was invited by the Ohariu Preservation Society in New Zealand to provide an evaluation of the impact of turbine noise on health and well-being. The report specifically references the proposed Mill Creek wind energy facility proposed to be built on rural land northwest of Wellington, New Zealand in the Makara and Ohariu valleys. His full report can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page. The conclusions of his report are shown below.
Facts, analysis, exposure to industrial wind energy's real impacts