April 13, 2012
New York, Opinions

Ill effects of wind turbines documented

By Mary Burns, Special to the Olean Times Herald, www.oleantimesherald.com 13 April 2012

The residents of Allegany who live south of the river are bracing for plummeting property values. The most recent research on real estate values near wind turbines make homeowners fear the worst for their major investment.

The Clarkson Study of July 2011 shows losses of “up to 40 percent on properties located within 0.10 miles of new wind turbine facilities.” Because of this study, Michael McCann, a real estate appraisal expert, who has made a specialty of assessing impacts from nearby wind turbines notes that “property owners experience an average 25 percent loss.”

Further, the impact of the turbines on property values extends out to at least 3 miles. In addition to property value guarantees, McCann supports “evidence-based setbacks and protection in noise ordinances to include low frequency and sub-audible effects.” Mr. McCann’s findings are discussed more in depth in Billie Jo Jannen’s article, “Property Value losses Near Wind Turbines Greater Than Previously Thought, Appraisers Say,” which was published in East County Magazine on March 30, 2012.

Reports from across the globe are describing health issues in relation to noise from turbines. Robert Bryce, in his article, “Wind Energy, Noise Pollution,” published in the National Review Online, on Feb. 2, 2012, cited the experience of Wisconsin state senator, Frank Lasee. So many constituents in Sen. Lasee’s district complain of health issues from wind turbines that he has filed legislation in Wisconsin for a “moratorium on new wind turbine projects until” the state investigates “the health effects of the noise produced by industrial wind turbines.”

In Charleston, W.Va., Richard Braithwaite, who lives near Pinnacle Wind’s Green Mountain complex, complained to the Public Service Commission about the noise levels inside (63.6 decibels) and outside (83.4 decibels) his home after the turbines became operational last November. Mr. Braithwaite is quoted in the Charleston Gazette saying: “When they started putting these turbines in, I never went to any of the meetings they had about them. I thought since it was their land, they could do anything they wanted to on it. But I never thought they’d be making them so close and so loud.” His home is about a half-mile from the closest turbine.

The Allegany residents who live south of the river were handed a bitter pill by the prior town and planning boards. Hopefully, the current boards will have a prescription for the ill effects of wind turbines on property values and health.

(Ms. Burns lives in Batavia and owns property on Chipmonk Road, town of Allegany.)