Unhappy with wind energy proposal
The Bellingham Herald, www.bellinghamherald.com 7 January 2012
Everyone would like to have clean energy, but I do not believe Galbraith Mountain is the appropriate place for 500-foot wind turbines and related transmission lines. Since this industrial development is in the Lake Whatcom watershed, I believe there are significant environmental impacts including water runoff and absorption, disruption of plant and animal habitat, killing migratory birds along the Pacific flyway, release of toxic materials during construction and operation, among many other environmental issues.
Also, there is noise transmission of low frequency sounds through blade thump, which the medical literature suggests causes health problems for nearby residents. Setbacks from residential areas are recommended to be two-to-three miles in hilly and mountainous areas. Noise transmission is exaggerated and variable in our mountainous, rural and lake areas.
The scenic destruction of one of Whatcom County’s most scenic and aesthetic ridgelines should not be tolerated. Property values will decline because most people don’t want to live near or look at an industrial wind turbine facility. Once one or two wind turbines are installed on Galbraith Mountain, many more will likely follow.
Galbraith Mountain is not the right place for industrial wind turbines. Put them in a more remote location.
William Cox
Bellingham
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/07/unhappy-with-wind-energy-proposal/