National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Parents express wind-turbine concerns to school board

Concerns over wind turbines in west Niagara blew into a school board meeting Tuesday.

At the District School Board of Niagara meeting, trustees received a letter from a group of “very concerned parents” about potential health troubles from the Niagara Region Wind Corp. turbines.

The company has applied to build 77 of the industrial generators between West Lincoln and Wainfleet.

The letter, written by Jodie Boverhof, says some of the turbines would be very close to a number of schools.

The parents at Gainsborough are “highly concerned with the potential impact that the wind turbines may have on our children,” the letter says.

It adds while Niagara Region Wind Corp. leans on a provincial chief medical officer report that says the turbines have no ill health effect, other international reports suggest otherwise.

The letter said accounts include “sleep disturbance, headaches, nausea, vertigo and concentration difficulties.”

West Lincoln/Wainfleet trustee Ed Fulford told the board West Lincoln council passed several resolutions on the issue, “including a deferral until the federal government does a health study.”

It has called on the province to impose a moratorium on industrial wind turbines until the possible health effects are known.

“The letter was written very well, and addresses the concerns of the students as well as the teachers, and the parents … these turbines are really huge,” Fulford added.