August 27, 2013
Ontario

Shutdown CAW turbine; Council listens to concerns residents health impacts, wants turbine to stop operation

by John Divinski | Owen Sound , 97.9 The Beach, Port Elgin | www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca

Saugeen Shores Council has a message for the CAW and the operation of its wind turbine at the Family Education Centre.

Council voted unanimously on Monday night to ask the CAW to shut down, outright, the operation of the turbine.

Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau presented the motion after Committee of the Whole listened to the impassioned pleas of five different families who say they have been affected by the turbine.

Charbonneau also calls on CAW officials to make good on their promise to not harm the health of those living near the structure and for now, that means ceasing operation of the turbine.

Among the speakers, Kevin Hall says the “assault” from the CAW has to end.

He says it’s torture to live in his house or try to get any sleep.

President of the Saugeen Shores Beachers’ Organization David Shemilt, whose family lives near the turbine, had to fight back tears as he told of the lack of sleep and uncontrollable trembling his kids, under 10 years of age, have suffered.

He says it’s heartbreaking because the kids don’t know what’s happening and he can’t explain it to them.

Shemilt believes any future decisions on turbines is going to have to be a political one.

He says the political message has been sent loud and clear from rural Ontario but the message needs to come from urban Ontario as well.

Mayor Mike Smith says CAW officials have to listen to what is being said by these impacted families as they deliver what he calls, powerful messages.

All speakers related how illness has impacted families living near the turbine and yet in all cases, when those same people moved away, the symptoms disappeared as well.

The motion asking the CAW to cease operation of the turbine will be sent to officials this week.

The CAW turbine began operation in March and is less than the mandated 550 meters from any residential homes but is legal because its approval came before the Green Energy rules on distance from homes.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/08/27/shutdown-caw-turbine-council-listens-to-concerns-residents-health-impacts-wants-turbine-to-stop-operation/