September 4, 2010
Ontario
Ontario
Academics clash over wind farms
By JONATHAN SHER, QMI AGENCY, simcoereformer.ca 3 September 2010
By JONATHAN SHER, QMI AGENCY, simcoereformer.ca 3 September 2010
They’re in a fight that could shape wind power in Ontario, billions of dollars of investment and the green reputation of Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals.
Two UWO academics are clashing over wind farms, each accusing the other’s followers of demonizing their cause and bastardizing science.
A champion for those who believe wind turbines are making them sick, Dr. Bob McMurtry was dean of the medical school at the University of Western Ontario from 1992 to 1999.
His wind adversary is Dr. David Colby, an associate professor and medical officer of health in Chatham-Kent who believes the health link is more science fiction than science.
Their clash is more than academic: McMurtry expects both will end up as witnesses on opposing sides in what he hopes will be a landmark case challenging Ontario’s Green Energy Act, which threw open the door for wind farms as part of a plan to ween Ontario off coal-fired power plants.