Health should outweigh energy savings in decision on turbines 

I’m expressing my disapproval on the installation of two industrial wind turbines. The safety/health major issues far outweigh the saved energy costs, both now, and even more important on the livelihood of our children’s prosperity.

The 1.2 km (mile) radius site location, being only 900 feet way from residential homes/land, does not meet the minimum distance of 1.5 miles between turbine and occupied house. According to a National Geographic website article, carbon dioxide is released during manufacture and maintenance of wind turbines. There is the possible leaking of this gas, intermingling with other gases (from the nearby treatment), entering into the land, water, or air, as a toxic gas/liquid and released to the populace. Not only will this cause health defects to the present people, but it will also be passed to future prosperity (both by family genes and the environment).

For proper efficient operation of turbine rotors, it needs to be mounted on towers greater than a 20-story building. Hence, it needs to be installed on towers higher (30-140′ high) than nearby trees and buildings, for use of the wind. Their profile distracts from the appearance of the skyline. Blade noise irritates neighbors (even at 2,400 feet away, shakes the homes, and goes through the human bones/bodies (as expressed by a Maine resident). Blades kill 20,000 -37,000 birds/year (stated by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). Wind energy systems need greater than one acre to support stand-alone turbines.

Estimates of $1,000-$5,000/kwh is the price of residential wind turbines. Federal tax credits/state incentives change regularly; therefore one should examine thoroughly before investing. The blade speed (8 miles persecond or 180 miles per hour,) sound and vibration disrupt the air pressure. In this state, infrasound bursts blood vessels and vibrates the eardrums through the atmosphere, at thousands of kilometers, resulting in breathing and digestive problems.

Symptoms resulting from closeness to wind farms are: headache, sleep problems, night terrors/learning disabilities in children, ringing in ears (tinnitus), mood problems (irritability/anxiety), concentration, memory problems, issues with equilibrium, dizziness and nausea.

Wind turbines produce audible hum and vibration through the air. The 2008 Green Communities Act stated cost to consumers would grow by $4 billion over the next four years. Implementation of delivery cost of electricity will exceed 7 percent by 2015.

Setbacks of 1,200 feet are an unsafe/unhealthy distance to the populace. Blade failure projectiles 220 pieces (104 last five years). They can travel up to 1,300 miles (4,265.09 feet). There needs to be a minimum distance of 1.5 miles between turbine and occupied houses. Nine hundred feet away is an unsafe/unhealthy distance.

There is no plan to address planes’ chemical drops, to contain forest fires (as a result of atmospheric dryness and increased oxygen burn ignition, from the wind turbines.) Seventy one fires occurred in five years, to Sept. 30, 2011. Two fires resulted from the Chinese Shinoval Co, on 1.5 units in 2010. Hence, there is no contingency plan to avoid/prevent/contain forest fires, thereby resulting in millions of dollars to the destruction of homes and properties. Taxpayers should not have to increase their health and property insurance as a result of installing these two industrial wind turbines. If no action is taken at the local Fairhaven Select Board or Board of Health, then I shall submit this email to my U.S. representative and U.S. senator.

Cesar D. Sousa

USAF veteran

Fairhaven