September 14, 2016
Wisconsin

St. Croix County asks state to study health impacts from wind turbines

By Rich Kremer | Wisconsin Public Radio | September 13, 2016 | www.wpr.org

St. Croix County has joined the list of counties wanting the state to study whether large wind turbines cause health problems for people living nearby.

In a unanimous vote, the St. Croix County Board asked the Wisconsin Division of Public Health to study whether industrial wind turbines are responsible for sleeplessness, headaches and even anxiety for people living near wind farms.

There are 41 turbines planned for the eastern St. Croix County towns of Forest and Cylon. County Health Officer Deb Lindemann said they’d like to see a health impact assessment and guidance from the state rather than piecemeal studies in various counties.

“We don’t have the expertise, necessarily, at the county level, and so we really look for the state in everything we do in public health,” Lindemann said.

St. Croix County Health and Human Services Director Fred Johnson would also like recommendations for measuring baseline health of those living where the turbines will be built before they start generating power.

“This isn’t necessarily an issue that is specific to St. Croix County, (we’re) looking to get some Wisconsin Division of Public Health guidance that could be potentially used elsewhere in the state and provide more consistent data,” Johnson said.

Officials in Brown and Kewaunee counties, which already have industrial wind turbines, asked for a similar study early this year. In 2015, the state Public Service Commission concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to link turbines with health problems.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/09/14/st-croix-county-asks-state-to-study-health-impacts-from-wind-turbines/