“Wind Turbines: Unsafe at any distance”
Marion Press|Dianne Ziegler (Photo taken by Ms. Ziegler)|March 30, 2017
Last December, one of the turbines at the Stoney Corners wind facility burst into flames and was completely destroyed. Black smoke darkened the sky and heavy winds spread ash and burning particles on fields and properties nearby. For days the acrid odor of smoldering composites lingered in the air and seeped into my home along with several other homes in the area of the fire.
Last December, one of the turbines at the Stoney Corners wind facility burst into flames and was completely destroyed. Black smoke darkened the sky and heavy winds spread ash and burning particles on fields and properties nearby. For days the acrid odor of smoldering composites lingered in the air and seeped into my home along with several other homes in the area of the fire.
Last December, one of the turbines at the Stoney Corners wind facility burst into flames and was completely destroyed. Black smoke darkened the sky and heavy winds spread ash and burning particles on fields and properties nearby. For days the acrid odor of smoldering composites lingered in the air and seeped into my home along with several other homes in the area of the fire.
By the next day, what was left of the turbine was hauled off and some of the contaminated top soil was bulldozed into a pile where it still sits, three months later. What assurance is there that contaminates from the burned turbine are not filtering into the groundwater below?
Heritage Sustainable Energy, who owns the project, told the local press that turbine fires …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]Last December, one of the turbines at the Stoney Corners wind facility burst into flames and was completely destroyed. Black smoke darkened the sky and heavy winds spread ash and burning particles on fields and properties nearby. For days the acrid odor of smoldering composites lingered in the air and seeped into my home along with several other homes in the area of the fire.
By the next day, what was left of the turbine was hauled off and some of the contaminated top soil was bulldozed into a pile where it still sits, three months later. What assurance is there that contaminates from the burned turbine are not filtering into the groundwater below?
Heritage Sustainable Energy, who owns the project, told the local press that turbine fires have never happened before in McBain. That may be so, but as a wind developer, Heritage is well aware that fire is the second largest cause of turbine failure worldwide and the problem is growing. Heritage touts wind power as clean and emission free but no one ever mentions the toxic pollutants released when the blades and other parts of the nacelle are ignited or the hazards of inhaling the gas and particles emitted by the fire.
“More than ten of the 28 Heritage turbines are sited within two miles of my home with the closest just 1700 feet away.” Back in 2008 when I agreed to sign a contract with Heritage, something I deeply regret, no one informed me of the dangers of living so close to the spinning towers. I can tell you first hand that wind turbines are not safe for humans, animals, birds of all sorts, the environment, or your electric bill. They are Not Green, Not Clean and Not Cheap.
If the state and its legislators continue to blindly insist that wind turbines are safe, they should advocate projects be sited on State and Federal land away from communities where they pollute our countryside and put people and property at risk.
There are alternatives to wind power that do not carry the same dangers and that are safer for humans, animals, birds and our countryside. Be warned and say “no” to wind power in your community.