National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Politicians in Lambton area say health risks a top concern

Two senior politicians in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex are joining forces Monday, leading a charge for a provincial moratorium on the development of wind turbine projects in the riding.

MPP Monte McNaughton and MP Bev Shipley, both Conservatives representing Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, want Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty to stop building the turbines until a Health Canada study can assess health risks for people living nearby.

This issue is of particular importance for residents in the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex area, where eight wind-turbine projects with 400 turbines are scheduled to be built in the near future, with many more over the long-term.

“Environmental and health studies should have been done long before a wind turbine was ever built,” said McNaughton, who has been advocating for a moratorium on turbines since taking office in October 2011.

McNaughton said his constituents are complaining about health effects and the rising cost of electricity is driving business out of the region.

“It’s time Dalton McGuinty listens to the people of Southwestern Ontario,” he said.

Last week, Shipley sent a letter to McGuinty urging a moratorium until health risks can be studied.

“It just makes sense,” Shipley said.

McNaughton said a number of his constituents have complained of headaches, nausea and $dizziness because of the $constant noise the turbines make.

“We’re just hoping that the province will listen when a number of people outside the urban areas speak out about those concerns,” he said.

The news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Coldstream Dr. and Kerwood Rd. (County Rd. 6) in North Middlesex.