Health Impacts of Industrial Wind
(6 videos)
Conference, Sept. 10, 2019, at Erie County Community College, Williamsville, N.Y., sponsored by state senator Robert Ortt. These videos are provided by courtesy of Citizens of Lincoln, N.Y. Summary outline notes are presented below.
Introduction (Sen. Ortt); Dan Stapleton, Niagara County Public Health Director (18 min.)
Jerry Punch, audiologist, talks about wind turbine sound and infrasound and its impact on the human body. (38 min.)
Robert Rand, acoustician, discusses the mechanics and physiological effects of wind turbine infrasound and setbacks. (38 min.)
Wind Farm Horror Stories: Three victims of industrial wind turbines describe their nightmare. (29 min.)
Gary Abraham, attorney, discusses New York State’s Article 10 process and what towns need to do to protect themselves from wind. (12 min.)
The participants answer: “Is it wise for Lincoln, N.Y., to allow six 500′ turbines at 3.2 MW to be built ~1,400′ from 34 homes [and only 600′ from some, and less than 1 mile from 121 homes]?” They explain why a 1.24-mile (2-km) setback is needed. (6 min.)
Summary provided by Tom Erlandson, Chair of the Chautauqua County Health Board, based on notes taken during the forum:
Introductory Comments by NYS Senator Robert Ortt, Forum Sponsor
- On August 4, 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law Chapter 388 of the Laws of 2011 that enacted Article 10 of the Public Service Law. Article 10 now governs Industrial Wind Turbines (IWTs).
- The New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) sets zero net carbon emissions by 2050 – it involves public health considerations, among others.
- Senator Ortt introduced the other speakers.
Dan Stapleton: Director of Niagara County Board of Health, member of WNY Public Health Alliance Board of Directors, President of NYS Association of County Health Officials
- Developers have burden to prove IWTs are safe – public should not have the burden of proving IWTs are not safe.
- Concerned about lakes becoming contaminated by IWT fluids, lost sleep, unanticipated health effects of IWTs.
- Resolutions read that thorough environmental impact studies be done for IWTs.
Dr. Jerry Punch: PhD audiologist; studied IWTs in 2009 in the “thumb” of the lower peninsula of Michigan
- Affected families left home, using motels at night.
- IWT noise much more annoying than noise of trains or cars.
- Referred to various studies:
- “Wind Energy Comes of Age” – Paul Gipe 1995
- “Wind Turbine Syndrome: A Report on a Natural Experiment” – Dr. Nina Pierpont
- Cooper and Chan: Australian study on Wind Turbine Syndrome
- “Low Frequency Noise and Health” – Dr. Mariana Alves-Pereira (Portugal, 2007-13)
- Berglund, B, et al. 1999 – Guidelines for Community Noise, WHO, Geneva
- Mentioned cortisol – a hormone involved in stress.
- Stated that sleep disturbance is the most well documented effect of IWT.
- Stated that sleep disturbance affects health: hypertension, memory, etc.
- Outer hair cells in the inner ear are sensitive to infrasound.
- Infrasound can lead to motion sickness – involves balance, vision, muscle receptors.
- IWT setbacks are not sufficient to protect human health.
- EPA noise regulations not updated since 1978.
- Setback distance is the most effective way of controlling IWT problems:
- 1.25 miles from property line minimum
- 1.5 miles from property line last month in Madison County, Iowa
- See conclusions in Punch, J.L. & R.R. James: “Wind Turbine Noise and Human Health: A Four-Decade History of Evidence That Wind Turbines Pose Risks.” 2016 [link]
Rob Rand: Professional acoustic investigator since 1980; has been investigating IWTs since 2009
- Rand quoted from the Code of Ethics of the National Society of Professional Engineers: “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.”
- Meters do not measure noise impacts, only noise levels.
- Wind turbines sited primarily in rural areas and are touted as pollution-free.
- Distance is the only reliable noise control option available for wind turbines so far. Most places do not have enough distance.
- Background noise in rural areas is low – 20-25 dBA at night. Annoyance is “perceived by individuals or groups to be adversely affecting them. Above 35 dBA is incompatible with rural living without annoyance” – American National Standards Institute.
- The quantity, ubiquity, and consistency of anecdotal complaints do have epidemiological significance.
- Re wildlife – studies with badgers show elevated cortisol levels resulting from infrasound. [link]
- Nauseogenesis – a nauseogenic factor is associated with IWTs.
Gary Abraham: Attorney
- Article 10 governs industrial wind projects producing greater than 25 megawatts.
- The Cassadaga wind project is the first Article 10 project.
- It is not realistic to regulate mean/average noise level with IWTs – the noise output is not a steady hum, but is a pulse produced during the blade downstroke.
- Siting board continues to use mean/average noise level.
- There is not much optimism in NYS about Article 10. NYS Home Rule is the only reason for optimism in New York State.
- Towns must pre-adopt 35 dB noise level limits.
- Towns must draft laws to protect people.
- Re upstate NYS electric energy picture:
- The upstate grid is separate from the downstate grid.
- The upstate grid is already getting 90% of its electricity from water power and nuclear power sources (i.e., clean energy). Still we keep building IWT projects.
- Towns can limit tower height, e.g., to 400 ft. (676 ft. towers in Town of Guilford, NY (Chenango County).
- Towns can adopt 35 decibel limits.
- Get your town to pass a proper wind law!”
Following the more formal part of the forum program, three individuals gave their personal testimonials of how they and their families have been affected by IWTs. One of them was Lynn Bedford, who lives on Cable Road in the Town of Arkwright.
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(Lewis Co., N.Y.; 21 min.)
(Meyersdale, Pa.; 26 min.)
Wind Turbine Strobe Lights and Eerie Noises
(Fenner and Wethersfield, N.Y.; 7 min.)
Industrial Wind Energy Information
(compilation from above videos and the "Truth About Industrial Wind Energy" presentations; 39 min.)
Green Madness: The Waste and Destruction Caused by One Industrial Wind Project
(Chautauqua, N.Y.; 28 min.)
The Wind Turbine Battle / Der Kampf um die Windräder
(Germany; 29 min.)
(Rhode Island; 2 videos)
Get Out While You Can! Big Wind Is Coming
(Chautauqua, N.Y.; 32 min.)
Wind Farm Issues — Compilation
(Fife, Scotland; 6 min.)
(1 hr. 32 min.)
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THE DARK SIDE OF GREEN ENERGIES
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(Meredith, N.Y.; 1 hr. 23 min.)
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(Greece; 1 hr. 23 min.)
Health Impacts of Industrial Wind – conference, Erie Co., New York
(6 videos)
Nextera Zoning Hearings, Clinton Co., Missouri
(9 topics; 515 videos)
La nueva conquista: Eolicos en Oaxaca
(Mexico; 10 min.)
Infrasound & Low Frequency Noise: Physics, Cells, Health and History
(Waterloo, Ont.; 2 hr. 22 min.)
Infrasound Caused by Wind Turbines / Infraschall – Unerhörter Lärm
(Germany; 28 min.)
Infrasound from Wind Turbines / Infraschall von Windkraftanlagen / Infrasons des éoliennes
(Germany; 10 min.)
Wind Turbine Syndrome, a matter of bad prevention?
(Denmark; 13 min.)
Wind Turbines and Public Health
(Australia; 7 min.)
(Prince Edward Co., Ont.; 13 min.)
(5 videos)
Presentations before the Concerned Citizens of Moore and Argyle Township
(Michigan; 3 videos)
The Falmouth Conference on Human Rights
(Falmouth, Mass.; 5 videos)
Wind Turbine Information Session
(Scituate, Mass.; 2 hr. 10 min.)
Potential Placement of Wind Turbines
(Shelburne, Mass.; 1 hr. 57 min.)
(Dekalb Co., Ill.; 1 hr. 20 min.)
(Hawaii; 4.5 min.)
(Lowell, Vt.; 1.5 min.)
(3.5 min.)
Wind Turbine Construction: Compilation
(6 min.)
(4 videos)
Concrete Pour: Wind Turbine Foundation
(Ireland; 5 min.)
(25 min.)
(Whitelee, Scotland; 3 min.)
(Vermont; 19 videos)
(6 min.)
Living Near a Windfarm: Cape Bridgewater, Victoria
(4 interviews)
Victim Impact Statements: Australia
(13 interviews)
Interviews with Wisconsin Wind Farm Residents
(5 interviews)
(Fond du Lac Co. and Lincoln Township; 1 hr. 49 min.)
(Port Rowan, Ont.; 7.5 min.)
(Barrington, R.I.; 17 min.)
(Shelburne, Ont.; 21 min.)
Amaranth Wind Turbines, Noise and Health: Barbara Ashbee Interview
(Amaranth, Ont.; 17 min.)
Pandora’s Pinwheels: The Reality of Life with Wind Turbines
(Australia and New Zealand; 1 hr. 57 min.)
Wind Turbines: The Test of Time
(7 min.)
Damage to farm fields and drainage tiles
(Iowa; 2 videos)
Wind turbines and their impacts on weather radar
(Illinois; 2 min.)
(Webster Co., Neb.; 9 videos)
Shadow Flicker in Kingston, Massachusetts
(4 videos)
(Dashwood, Huron Co., Ont.; 2 min.)
Wind Turbine Sound – Field Recording
(Denmark; 10 min.)
(Fond du Lac Co., Wis.; 2.5 min.)
Wind Turbine Noise and Shadow Flicker
(Fond du Lac Co., Wis.; 9 min.)
Noise and Strobing at Hoosac Wind
(Mass.; 9 sec.)
(Scituate, Mass.; 7 videos)
(Scituate, Mass.; 7 videos)
(Freedom, Maine; 3 videos)
(The Netherlands; 2 videos)
Foliennes — Éoliennes à tout prix?
(Québec; 7 videos)
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(Kansas; 12 presentations)
Infrasound and Motion Sickness
(Ontario; 18 min.)
Lowell Mountain Soundscape Before and After Wind Turbines
(Vermont; 30 sec.)
Noise of Turbine in Aberdeenshire
(Scotland; 2 min.)
(Wales)
(Belgium; 25 sec.)
Wind Turbine Breaks Up in Storm
(Denmark; 3 videos)
(Rexville, N.Y.; 1 min.)
Wind Turbine Fire — Burning Blades Fly Off
(Portugal; 1 min.)
(Portugal; 4.5 min.)
(Indiana; 2 min.)
(Isselburg, Germany; 2 videos)
(Germany)
(Jhimpir City, Thatta District, Sindh Province; 1 min.)
Washing Wind Turbine from Helicopter
(Spain; 3 min.)
Peat slippage, Meenbog Wind Farm, Donegal
(Ireland; 1.5 min.)
See also: The Politics of Peat, RTE News footage of the bog slides caused by wind facility construction in Derrybrien and other sites in Co. Galway, Ireland, compiled by the Scottish Wind Assessment Project)
(Wales; 3 min.)
(photo collection)
Vulture Fatally Collides With Wind Turbine Blade
(Crete; 30 sec./6 min.)
A Rough Wind: The Impact of Industrial Windmill Facilities on Birds and Other Wildlife
(Pennsylvania; 20 min.)
(Norway; 6.5 min.)
More videos are available in the Documents Library.
Also see more videos at the National Wind Watch You Tube page
