Onshore wind turbines: Is our health for sale?

We ask if health is for sale when siting onshore wind turbines? Viborg Municipality is in the process of wind turbine planning in the municipality. It is an exciting process that we follow closely.

We have searched and read information about the windmills in many places. We have gained an insight into the regulations, distances, noise and shadow flicker, etc. and certainly issues around the health of the people living at wind turbine sites. Many researchers believe that wind turbine neighbors are not adequately protected against interference from noise. Neighbors to wind turbines and those who live 1-2 km away from the windmill area have experienced first hand that noise and shadow flicker with transmit every day and could produce health problems. The current rules for installation of onshore wind turbines on land do not take sufficient account of wind turbine neighbors and those who live nearby. The City Council has however specific authority of a wind turbine project siting including the possibility of increasing the distance requirement from the turbine housing. There are many communities that have declined giant wind turbines in their communities, and they have fought hard against the wind industry and those who would install the turbines. For some, communities have managed to escape the wind turbine noise and inconvenience; for others this is not the case.

Many people at established wind areas have reported noise and nuisance caused by low-frequency noise that affects people up to three kilometers away. It involves, among other things, sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, dizziness, stress, depression, type2 diabetes, low birth weight and hearing loss for newborn, chronic headaches, tinnitus, nausea, blurred vision, problems with concentration and memory, and problems with learning for children.

Erected wind turbines up to 150 meters in height west of Pederstrup as stated in the project proposal will have serious consequences for many people in the local area. The management of the Municipality of Viborg indicates that there are 5 homes within 600 meters from the turbines, impacting 14 residents. Here it will not be an option to stay because of the noise etc. that the turbines emit. For us the future looks like this: The properties  within 600 meters from wind turbines are too close to the wind turbine area and they are being bought and abandoned, including our property. In the zone from 600 meters to 1000 meters there will be massive problems with noise and consequent health problems for residents. In the zone 1000 meters to 1500 meters, there will be considerable noise nuisance and health problems. The low frequency noise will bother housing farther away, and what happens here? There are several farms with livestock, where the animals will be affected by the noise, and a loss of production must be anticipated. It is not the future scenario we imagined here in our community and we will do our best to stop the project proposal.

The two landowners and Wind Estate A / S, which wants to build three giant wind turbines west of Pederstrup do not think of neighbors and the health of local residents. It is about generating electricity from wind turbines, about money, and so it is also for those who are thinking about investing in the project to achieve a good profit. It's not about noise by neighbors and people's health by Pederstrup Vraa and Løvel, and for all of us at properties in the hinterland.

It is important that the health conditions and health for people in the local area are also taken into consideration when planning wind and applications must file treated in the municipalities. Give consideration to people's health a place in planning both the country politically and local politics.

We look forward to the council's treatment of wind turbine planning in Viborg Municipality.

Translation is provided via Google Translate.