- The findings from the Health Canada study show that the standards that form the basis of the Ontario wind turbine regulations are not sufficient to protect human health. The study indicates that the sound power threshold needs to be lowered to 35 dB which in turns means that the setback needs to be increased to 1,300 metres (Our emphasis). These standards are not without precedent as both New Zealand and South Australia are using this standard in rural areas.
- To protect the health of Canadians, the federal Health Minister should be immediately issuing an interim advisory indicating requiring wind companies to respect the 35 dB threshold in both new turbine siting and the operation of existing turbines.
- At the same time, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change should be [sic] updated regulations and guidelines related to the siting of wind turbines to incorporate the findings of the Health Canada study.
- The Ministry of the Energy should be instructing the Ontario Power Authority to defer the issuance of the RFP planning for early February 2015 until after the findings of the Health Canada study are reflected in new regulations and guidelines.
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change should also be providing the Health Canada findings to Environmental Review Tribunal panels with instructions to consider them in their evaluation of proposals currently under appeal.
These recommendations do not reflect the fact that:
- Acoustic survey work by Thorne indicates that anything above 32 dBA is likely to lead to SERIOUS adverse health effects which coincides with MOE Field Officer Hall’s advice to an ERT.
- Professor Colin Hansen found wind turbine LFN alone extending out to 8.7 km at Waterloo, AU (3MW turbines). Niagara is about to receive a massive array at this size, or larger.
- There is NO evidence that 35dBA will protect people.
- There is NO evidence that 1300 metres will protect people.
- Internationally, people are affected out to 11 miles and further.
- Data supplied by the HC or Stats Can people may well be suspect, based on the lack of arm’s length process, and lack of transparency.
- The recommendations in this evaluation belittle the actual harm being done to the health of Ontarians, and provide no protection at all going forward.
Energy policy in this province is industry led and government supported.
From the Health Canada “
Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study” findings:
“The following were not found to be associated with WTN exposure:
ï
- self-reported sleep (e.g., general disturbance, use of sleep medication, diagnosed sleep disorders);
ï - self-reported illnesses (e.g., dizziness, tinnitus, prevalence of frequent migraines and headaches) and chronic health conditions (e.g., heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes); and
ï - self-reported perceived stress and quality of life.
While some individuals reported some of the health conditions above, the prevalence was not found to change in relation to WTN levels.” [url=http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/noise-bruit/turbine-eoliennes/summary-resume-eng.php]http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/noise-bruit/turbine-eoliennes/summary-resume-eng.php[/url]
This statement by Health Canada is patently ridiculous, and insults the people who have lost homes, had lives and communities deconstructed, systematically, and with impunity.
Statement at Queens Park by MPP Qaadri
December 4, 2014, at Queens Park, the Health Canada study was hailed as “ground breaking”(see at about 60 minutes). In fact the MPP for Etobicoke West, Shafiq Qaadri (also Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Kathleen Wynne), calls on the government to
relax the rules for wind power in the province.
We can no longer pretend the rules of government and this industry are favorable to common place values of respect for human health. Arguing setbacks is playing the wind industry's game. It is the position of OWA that both Federal and Provincial governments should immediately recognize the
obvious harm to human health from industrial wind, and initiate mitigation and compensation.
Claiming that a setback of 1300 meters will protect people, and offering this as a compromise position to abetting governments, will hinder the mitigation of health issues required in Ontario, as well as harm the advancement and recovery of a perilously damaged economy due to subsidies.
We urge the people of Ontario to look at mounting evidence from all over the world that shows obvious degradation to health from industrial wind turbines.
WINDSPEAK
“Windspeak: Language used by those who profit financially, politically, or
ideologically from wind technology that disguises, distorts, or reverses the
meanings of words in order to promote the technology. Oxymorons, which
combine incongruous or contradictory terms, abound in windspeak—viz,
windpower, wind capacity, responsible windpower (double oxymoron),
windfarms, windparks, wind jobs, wind reliability workshops, and wind as
alternate energy. Generally any claim made for the technology in windspeak produces the virtually opposite effect in reality.” (Jon Boone)
We suggest that “safe setbacks” is one of these.
Sincerely,
Sherri Lange
Lorrie Gillis
Ontario Wind Action
References:
[url=http://waubrafoundation.org.au/resources/hansen-zajamsek-hansen-noise-monitoring-waterloo-wind-farm/]http://waubrafoundation.org.au/resources/hansen-zajamsek-hansen-noise-monitoring-waterloo-wind-farm/[/url]
[url=http://waubrafoundation.org.au/resources/thorne-r-victorian-wind-farm-review-updated-june-2014/]http://waubrafoundation.org.au/resources/thorne-r-victorian-wind-farm-review-updated-june-2014/[/url]
[url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/03/14/germanys-green-energy-disaster-a-cautionary-tale-for-world-leaders/]http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/03/14/germanys-green-energy-disaster-a-cautionary-tale-for-world-leaders/[/url]
[url=http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?locale=en&Page=/webcast/webcast_archive&menuItem=dandp_proceedings]http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?locale=en&Page=/webcast/webcast_archive&menuItem=dandp_proceedings[/url] (approx. 6o minutes in)
[url=http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2014/11/12/green-light-for-west-niagara-wind-turbine-project]http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2014/11/12/green-light-for-west-niagara-wind-turbine-project[/url]
[url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100227983/wind-turbines-are-a-human-health-hazard-the-smoking-gun/]http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100227983/wind-turbines-are-a-human-health-hazard-the-smoking-gun/[/url]
[url=http://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingviews/2014/wind-turbine-noise-evidence-health-problems/]http://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingviews/2014/wind-turbine-noise-evidence-health-problems/[/url]
[url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100190461/big-wind-the-most-corrupt-and-corrupting-industry-in-the-world/]http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100190461/big-wind-the-most-corrupt-and-corrupting-industry-in-the-world/[/url]
[url=http://www.epaw.org/documents/Letter_to_Slovenia%20SARAH%20LAURI%20WAUBRA%20F.pdf]http://www.epaw.org/documents/Letter_to_Slovenia%20SARAH%20LAURI%20WAUBRA%20F.pdf[/url]
[url=http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/25/lawrence-solomon-ill-winds-blow-from-wind-turbines/]http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/25/lawrence-solomon-ill-winds-blow-from-wind-turbines/[/url]
[url=http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/noise-bruit/turbine-eoliennes/summary-resume-eng.php]http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/noise-bruit/turbine-eoliennes/summary-resume-eng.php[/url]
