Concerns with East Point windmills proposal
The Guardian | www.theguardian.pe.ca
We retired and moved back to East Point where my wife grew up. It is so beautiful here it was once considered to become a national park.
P.E.I. Energy is planning to build 60-storey windmills (175 metres) in East Point. My concern is what effect they will have on our migratory bird route, our lands natural beauty and our health? There are over 100 residents that are against this 60-storey windmill proposal and have sent letters to our council (Council for the Rural Municipality of Eastern Kings).
Windmills, regardless of their location, have issues. Germany, for example, is a leader in wind farms has faced increasing legal action and regulatory hurdles against wind energy resulting in only 35 new windmills in 2019 – an 80-per-cent drop over 2018.
One main concern is that the health hazards of infrasound emissions from the wind turbines haven’t been fully studied.
In Poland, the government announced wind farms will be scrapped by 2035. Under Poland’s regulations, turbines can only be built on farmland with no residential houses within 2 km. In Canada, our oldest wind farm in Cowley Ridge, Alta., is headed for the scrap yard after 23 years.
The company said it was becoming a safety issue and no parts could be found to maintain the 57 turbines. They went on to say it was not economical to rebuild.
I reiterate my concerns that 60-storey windmills will impact East Point’s natural beauty, our birds’ migratory route and our community health. Over 100 residents oppose their construction. Germany reduced new windmills by 80 per cent in 2019 largely due to concern over health hazards. Poland plans to eliminate turbines by 2035. Canada’s oldest wind farm is not going to rebuild. Can our community trust P.E.I. Energy after 2006!
Donald Bergeron, East Point, P.E.I.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/11/26/concerns-with-east-point-windmills-proposal/