Wind turbine sound report writes off concerns 

In summary, the first recommendation said that sensitive “receptors” or residents living close to turbines, should continue to be monitored to insure the 40-decible sound level is in compliance. Jordan said if this isn’t met, companies will be asked to take “voluntary” action to remedy the situation, from shutting down the turbine when high winds create noise that exceed the guidelines, slowing the turbine, or installing indoor noise monitoring devices, to construction of physical barriers to protect receptors from sound. Jordan said if problems persist and companies don’t take action against concerns of neighbours, the province may take legal action or issue fines until companies are compliant.

The second is a continued monitoring of technical developments and the adaptation of regulatory policies worldwide.

“Ontario will continue to monitor this evolving science’s technical developments, and any emerging regulatory policies introduced in other countries,” the report reads.

The third recommendation refers to issues surrounding low frequency sound levels and its impact indoors, as it changes in different environments and differs from sound reception outdoors and should be implemented in provincial protocols dealing with complaints.

“It is recommended that the MOE consider adopting or developing a protocol to provide guidance for addressing such complaints…. given the significant variation in sound impact from house to house,” the report reads.

The fourth and final recommendation refers to infrasound, which “is not expected to be heard by humans or pose an issue for human health.” On that note, the report recommends that “routine measurement of infrasonic sound pressure levels” from operating “is not warranted to the same degree that the measurement and monitoring of overall… sound pressure levels.”

“Nonetheless, there are aspects of infrasound from wind turbines that are not unanimously accepted by all technical and medical practicioners and there remains a degree of public apprehension associated with infrasound,” the recommendation reads. “It is therefore recommended that the MOE consider adopting or endorsing measurement procedures described in the literature that could be used to quantify infrasonic levels in specific situations.”

Jordan said the MOE will continue to monitor complaints from existing wind turbines in regards to noise issues. She said in cases like the CAW turbine, the MOE asked the proponent to downgrade the turbine from 800kw to 500kw, as well as reevaluating their noise modelling and assessment data in regards to their Certificate of Approval for noise.

“We will continue to work with communities and respond to noise complaints,” she said.

The study was a compilation of 100 reports conducted by noise, vibration and acoustics “experts” Howe Gastmeier Chapnik Limited (HGC Engineering). The report was assembled by Alberto Behar, a University of Toronto Research Assistant, Colin Tickell, a senior consultant on acoustics and the environment with HATCH and associates, and Dr. Gilles Daigle, principle consultant with MG Acoustics.

“Ontario will continue to monitor this evolving science’s technical developments, and any emerging regulatory policies introduced in other countries,” the release said.

Wind Concerns Ontario said in an e-mail Monday that the “one-year-old report smacks of desperation as claims of health effects from the environmental noise are on the rise around the world,” said president Jane Wilson.

Wilson said the literature review can’t address the current issues surrounding wind turbines in the Kincardine and surrounding areas, as it was written beforehand. Because of this, it does not refer to the finding so the recent Environmental Review Tribunal in Ontario, which found that “there is no question” of harm to human health from industrial wind turbines, if they are placed too close to people,” she said.

“The judgement of that Tribunal was that Ontario needs to rely on better science to create regulations to protect citizens’ health and safety,” said Wilson. “This report is not that science.”

Wilson said the World Health Organization has documented the reports of potential for ill health from the Kincardine-area specifically, as she recognizes those who “have become ill from the exposure to the the environmental noise and infrasound” from turbines.

“For Ontario to ignore people like this and continue to promote industrial development which is resulting in what can only be called an environmental illness at this point, is unconscionable,” said Wilson.

The report is viewable on the MOE website at http://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2011/12/expert-report-confirms-no-direct-health-effects-from-wind-turbines.html