January 17, 2013
Opinions, Wisconsin

Wind energy lobby ignoring real concerns of families, children

Written by State Sen. Frank Lasee | The Herald Times Reporter | January 16, 2013 | www.htrnews.com

Yet again, supporters of wind energy claim that families moving from their homes need to “learn the facts and separate actual risks from unfounded fears.”

This is a response to the opinion piece written by John Anderson and Joe Sullivan, erroneously titled “Science Proves that Wind Energy is Safe for Wisconsin.”

They claim that the “detractors” of wind energy are simply publicizing their concerns that “sounds emitted from wind turbines cause adverse health effects.” The use of the word “sound” suggests audible noise. This is another example of the pro-wind lobby ignoring the real concerns of families and children. These families are not claiming harm from audible sound, but from low-frequency “infrasound.”

The wind energy lobby doesn’t care about families and children currently being harmed or about future families that will be harmed by 500- foot industrial wind turbines. They are not listening, they are either uninformed or are deliberately misrepresenting the facts; it appears they don’t care.

They cite the Massachusetts Health Study as a source to support their erroneous claim. This study says that wind turbines have the ability to harm people’s health. Yet, they claim just the opposite.

The “impartial panel” used several articles by the same authors of studies I provided to the Public Service Commission that say harmful health effects caused by wind towers are likely. Here is a small sample of those sources available on my legislative website that say there are likely negative effects caused by 500-foot wind turbines:

• The Bruce McPherson Infrasound and Low Frequency Noise Study: Adverse Health Effects Produced By Large Industrial Wind Turbines Confirmed.

• “Low-frequency noise from large wind turbines,” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

• “Responses of the ear to low frequency sounds, infrasound and wind turbines.”

Scientists have repeatedly said inner ear issues caused by infrasound can cause loss of balance, unsteadiness, nausea, vertigo, anxiety, headaches and panic attacks especially in people who get motion sickness.

People around the world and in Wisconsin are suffering from industrial wind turbines that are too close to their homes. In my Senate District, several families with children have moved out of their homes because of the 500-foot industrial wind towers near their homes. These families had to take out second mortgages to pay for a place to live to stop their suffering. Imagine that you had to do this for your family. It’s against common sense to claim these families’ symptoms are “make-believe.”

The editorial attempts to discredit the results of the Shirley Wind Farm study in Glenmore, Wis., are the result of those making money from taxpayers and electric ratepayers. They don’t want their gravy train to end.

The Shirley Wind Farm study and peer-reviewed studies show how important it is for the PSC to immediately create new set-back rules that protect the health and safety of families and children who, through no fault of their own, are forced to live too close to these 500-foot wind turbines. I renew my request of the PSC to protect the men, women and children of our state.