Wind turbines: Prove they're safe
I applaud the Potter County Commissioners’ new wind farm regulations (Endeavor, Aug. 19).
The burden of proof lies with the wind developers. They need the hard scientific evidence proving their setbacks and regulations will protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
As for the state’s model wind ordinance, the press release for this document states it is a “template that local governments can adjust to their specifi c needs.” There are no hard and fast standards.
Also, it was heavily influenced by the wind industry. Contributors include PennFuture, a pro-wind group; wind developers Community Energy, FPL Energy, PPM Energy and Gamesa. This is similar to having the oil companies writing the fuel mileage standards for cars.
More and more studies are linking wind turbines with health issues. At a presentation in Ulysses, Bob White of AES was asked by a resident if he could guarantee her family’s health would not be affected by the wind turbines. He said no.
If his setbacks and regulations are so sound, that answer should have been yes.
We need to err on the safe side. Once put up, these things may be around for a long time. It would be a shame to find out in five or 10 years wind farms are the next asbestos or hormone replacement therapy. Both of these were a great idea at the time, only to be a disaster later.
Robert Daley
Ulysses
6 September 2008
The copyright of this article is owned by the author or publisher indicated. Its availability here constitutes a "fair use" as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law as well as in similar "fair dealing" exceptions of the copyright laws of other nations, as part of National Wind Watch's effort to advance understanding of the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development. For more information, click here.
Blog it:
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
|
