July 18, 2014
Letters, Nova Scotia

Bigger buffer zone

The Chronicle Herald | July 17, 2014 | thechronicleherald.ca

An industrial wind turbine project has been approved near Barrachois, Cape Breton (July 15 article). Another industrial wind turbine project is planned near Terence Bay. Friends of River Road residents are concerned about harmful health effects of having three huge industrial wind turbines located too close (at 1.2-kilometre setback).

In Pictou County, residents are already living near wind turbines. Residents recently packed council meetings to speak about their health problems, such as sleep disturbance, that occur due to wind-turbine noise. They are asking for an improved bylaw setback distance.

Several Canadian physicians and nurses, including Dr. Robert McMurtry, former dean of medicine at Western University in London, Ont., have formed Doctors and Nurses: The Ontario Coalition for Harm-to-Health from Industrial Wind Turbines. The coalition advocates a greater setback of at least two kilometres for industrial wind turbines.

Regulations are needed to protect human health. A setback of two kilometres is required in Saint Laurent Nord, Que.; Wainfleet and Plympton-Wyoming, Ont.; Lincolnshire, England, and the State of Victoria, Australia.

For Barrachois and Terence Bay residents, a safer setback of at least two kilometres is needed.

Nancy Campbell, West Earltown


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/07/18/bigger-buffer-zone/