Industrial wind turbine projects are planned for New Glasgow, Barrington and Wedgeport (April 22 story). Will residents be protected by adequate setback distances from industrial wind turbines?
Pictou County residents, including many who experience sleep disturbance and other health effects from existing wind turbines, are asking Pictou County council to amend the wind turbine bylaw to provide a setback distance of 1.5 kilometres.
Also, a few days ago, the area MLA tabled in the legislature a petition signed by 700 residents, asking that the Greenfield wind turbine project not be allowed to proceed.
Residents are worried about health issues such as sleep disturbance from the project which would have approximately a one-kilometre setback from houses.
In Kings County, there is a moratorium on wind turbine projects pending results from a Health Canada study. In Ontario, 70 municipalities have signed a statement that they do not want wind turbine developments. A safer setback of two kilometres is required in Saint Laurent Nord, Quebec; Wainfleet and Plympton-Wyoming, Ont; Lincolnshire, England, and the State of Victoria, Australia.
Nova Scotia county councils should improve wind turbine bylaws and protect their residents with a setback of at least two kilometres between houses and industrial wind turbines.
Nancy Campbell, West Earltown
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/29/bigger-buffer-zones/