January 21, 2012
Massachusetts

Wind farm critics slam health study; Patrick standing by controversial report

Christine Lee, 22News State House Correspondent, WWLP, www.wwlp.com 20 January 2012

State agencies have released a report on the health effects of wind turbines. The report found that turbines do not cause adverse health effects. Governor Patrick is standing by the report, but wind farm critics are calling those findings into question.

“It’s a one-sided report,” said Virginia Irvine of Brimfield, a town where a proposed wind farm caused great controversy.

Neil Andersen lives near a wind turbine in Falmouth and says he is upset with the findings. “I got to the first page saying that my problems, my health problems, don’t exist.”

The Department of Public Health and Department of Environmental Protection have released an independent Wind Turbine Impact Study. Results say there is no scientific proof linking wind
turbines to negative health effects. But folks who live by them disagree, complaining of headaches, stress and nausea.

“We have shadow flicker. You know it’s like a disco in our kitchen, and also I have some ringing in my ears,” said Malcolm Donald, who also lives near the Falmouth wind farm.

Critics demand an epidemiological study be done that compares the health of people who live by wind turbines with those that don’t.

“I am talking to the Governor. This has gone on way too long and he knows it and he knows the truth and it’s time you got down to Falmouth and straighten this out,” said David Moriarty of the group Windwise Mass.

Patrick, who aims to develop 2,000 megawatts of wind power by 2020, is defending the report. “I think that what the DPH did was exactly what they should have done, which is open a process that brought in expert advice. I’m sure that report isn’t going to please everyone,” Patrick said.

The governor said our energy future will not depend on any one alternative, and the state study acknowledges that they need to look further into the “annoyance” that wind turbines can cause.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/21/wind-farm-critics-slam-health-study-patrick-standing-by-controversial-report/