Setbacks should be increased on wind turbine projects
The Orangeville Banner|David L. White|February 27, 2009
During this meeting one family in particular gave their account of what it is like to live 450 meters from a wind turbine. ...Their experience, like many other families, is nothing like the romantic picture painted by the green media. The reality of life in the shadows of a wind turbine can be devastating. This couple gave a passionate and at times tearful testimony of the impact to their lives since these turbines started operating.
During this meeting one family in particular gave their account of what it is like to live 450 meters from a wind turbine. ...Their experience, like many other families, is nothing like the romantic picture painted by the green media. The reality of life in the shadows of a wind turbine can be devastating. This couple gave a passionate and at times tearful testimony of the impact to their lives since these turbines started operating.
When is green energy red?
I think this is the question proponents of wind energy should be asking themselves. Last Wednesday I attended a public meeting in Amaranth Township. The meeting was for a wind farm application.
During this meeting one family in particular gave their account of what it is like to live 450 meters from a wind turbine.
My heart went out to this family as they struggle to live in their home. Their experience, like many other families, is nothing like the romantic picture painted by the green media. The reality of life in the shadows of a wind turbine can be devastating. This couple gave a passionate and at times tearful testimony of the impact to their lives since these turbines started operating.
"This is …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]When is green energy red?
I think this is the question proponents of wind energy should be asking themselves. Last Wednesday I attended a public meeting in Amaranth Township. The meeting was for a wind farm application.
During this meeting one family in particular gave their account of what it is like to live 450 meters from a wind turbine.
My heart went out to this family as they struggle to live in their home. Their experience, like many other families, is nothing like the romantic picture painted by the green media. The reality of life in the shadows of a wind turbine can be devastating. This couple gave a passionate and at times tearful testimony of the impact to their lives since these turbines started operating.
"This is our retirement home," they explained, "We invested everything here and now we can't sleep. We are exhausted, we are suffering, and the wind energy company responsible for this has been here three times and can't find anything wrong."
Conditions at their home vary, ranging from a constant irritating low hum/vibration, to a never-ceasing jet flying overhead, to sounding like the house has literally been dumped into a running washing machine.
"Don't believe us?" they asked. "Come to our home and spend a week, especially at night time when trying to sleep. On a good night, we get two hours sleep, we can't take much more of this."
This couple, like many other residents, feels absolutely helpless and no one is listening to them, least of all the Ontario government. These turbines are 450 meters from their home, well within provincial guidelines, but as you might have guessed these guidelines are woefully inadequate.
So I ask again when is green energy red? When wealthy wind corporations, funded by our tax dollars take advantage of residents, stifling their voices, dismissing their health issues and forcing them out of their homes, and then wrap it in a beautiful bow called the Green Energy Act.
For the record, I am a proponent of green energy but I will not support irresponsible wind turbine setbacks of 400 metres when so many families are impacted negatively. If France, which has half the landmass of Ontario and six times as many people, can increase wind turbine setbacks to 1.5 kilometres from residents, then so can Ontario.