New noise studies will show infrasound from wind power projects, but why spend money to protect residents when province doesn’t regulate low frequency noise, Laura Haight says.
560 CFOS News, April 11, 2016
At least one Kincardine Councillor thinks it may be time to put the lid on spending for wind turbine noise studies.
Laura Haight says the municipality has already done a study on acoustics in an area that will have turbines operating and another study is scheduled now that the turbines are operational.
Haight says it’s likely there will be more infrasound in the “after” study but it means nothing to the province.
She says the Ministry of Environment doesn’t consider infrasound in its approval process, so she questions why they should spend money to prove the issue.
Haight says with the municipality facing myriad capital projects and an infrastructure deficit, she wants to know when the turbine studies will come to an end.
The issue came up after Central Grey Bruce Wind Concerns Ontario spokesperson, Rachel Thompson, questioned the scientific criteria of a study done for Kincardine recently.
Thompson would like to see another study done with the correct Request for Proposal parameters being spelled out.
She says with a correctly-done study, it will put the province in a position not to ignore the results.
Staff will return with a report on the issue for Councillors to discuss at a future meeting of council.
Meanwhile, Council has given its support to a study of health problems being done in Huron County on residents living close to turbines.
6 Comments
Ron Higgins (Mayor North Frontenac)
Councilor Haight. I agree the Province does not care but having a study conducted that includes the right parameters is important. All municipalities need to continue to conduct their battles on this issue. We need to be relentless in battling this undemocratic Green Energy Act.
Wind Concerns Ontario
Big Wind needs more scrutiny. That sure won’t be the Wynne government!
ScepticalGord
Ya, I guess we could have thrown in the towel on studying the effects of cigarette smoking years ago, cause the results mean nothing to the tobacco industry.
Mike Jankowski
Why should the province be the be all and end all in terms of what we do? It is clear to me from my dialog with the Standards Branch of the MoE&CC that they are neither equipped to innovate nor take input from the very people they are mandated to protect.
I submit to you – the province is not our initial target. We need to attract the scientific and health communities. We need to attract the media and engineers. We are fortunate to see where information is lacking. Produce that information and pass the baton. A clear vision is required in order to overcome challenges.
Thank you,
Mike
Barbara
The province has become the facilitator for the renewable energy industry.
Small hydro projects are the darlings of the “greenies” and the likely reason why they are being installed in Ontario.
It’s about being environmentally correct and not if small hydro makes any sense.
Sommer
Obviously Councillor Haight is not being threatened personally by the infrasound from turbines. She also obviously lacks compassion for people who are being impacted.
Those who have had the frightening experiences of feeling the physical effects from infrasound radiation are highly motivated to put an end to this nightmare.
Thank you Rachel for being able to guide us toward this next crucial step.
I agree that we have exhausted all efforts to have the provincial government take responsible action and protect us.