From the Somerset County Gazette
MP slams wind turbine proposals
7:00pm Monday 23rd November 2009
By Lloyd Vaughan »
GOVERNMENT proposals to enable wind turbine companies to sidestep planning consent are "a serious worry", according to West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.
The new rules, designed to cut red tape and costs, would have strict noise, appearance and size conditions attached.
But wind turbines up to 50ft high could still be put up without going out to consultation or needing planning permission.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said the move mentioned in last week's Queen's Speech was "disturbing".
“Wind turbines at sea is fair enough,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.
“But if they can just put them up on land willy-nilly, we'd end up with a forest of the things on the Quantocks, Exmoor, the levels and heaven knows where else.
“This is just not the way to do it.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said there had been full consultation over Hinkley C and D power stations: “Such consultation is valuable and essential - but the wind turbine companies could just go ahead and do it.
“It's a serious worry,” he added.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Events Coming Up
This weekend, don’t miss the 3rd Annual Festival of Trees in Weymouth and the Holiday Spirit Craft Fair in Bear River.
Labels:
Bear River,
Nova Scotia,
Wemouth
Ferry Link in Nova Scotia
Important Tourism Noitce: Southwest Nova Scotia Transportation Study
The Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA) is undertaking a broad review of the transportation needs of Southwest Nova Scotia in order to identify the range of transportation options that will best serve the region in the future.
As this topic is important to the growth and sustainability of tourism in the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores and the South Shore (as it relates to the ferry services in the region) we encourage you as tourism inudstry stakeholders to visit the SWNS transportation study webpage to learn more about the project and to submit your comments: www.swnstransportationstudy.ca.
Please contact SWNovaStudy@cpcstrans.com if you have any questions about the study.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA) is undertaking a broad review of the transportation needs of Southwest Nova Scotia in order to identify the range of transportation options that will best serve the region in the future.
As this topic is important to the growth and sustainability of tourism in the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores and the South Shore (as it relates to the ferry services in the region) we encourage you as tourism inudstry stakeholders to visit the SWNS transportation study webpage to learn more about the project and to submit your comments: www.swnstransportationstudy.ca.
Please contact SWNovaStudy@cpcstrans.com if you have any questions about the study.
Wind Farm Developers Make Oodles
Saturday, November 21, 2009
BBC propaganda on wind farms....
from gayandright.blogspot.com
They're trying to sell farmers on the idea...
When the BBC runs one of its propaganda campaigns in favour of windfarms, as Farming Today was again doing recently, the only point of interest is how many of the basic facts they leave out. One thing they invariably try to conceal is how derisory is the amount of electricity these windmills produce.
Although Farming Today interviewed one of the sternest technical critics of wind turbines, Dr John Etherington, a retired environmental academic who has just published an excellent book on the nuts and bolts of wind power, they asked him with seemingly wide-eyed disbelief how he could justify his claim that turbines generate less than 30 per cent of their capacity.
Yet, as any half-way competent journalist should know, this information is freely available on the climate change department's website. The very last thing the BBC ever wants to admit – though the information is available from the same source – is that the total amount of power produced by all the 2,300 turbines so far built in Britain amounts on average to a mere 900 megawatts, barely the output of a single medium-size conventional power station.
The other point the BBC is always careful to conceal is how much money the developers make from these windmills, thanks to the near 100 per cent hidden subsidy we all pay them through our electricity bills. Farming Today was quite happy to encourage farmers to lease their land by telling them that they could hope to make up to £20,000 a year from each 2 megawatt turbine. What they did not explain was that the same turbine will yield its developer around £400,000 a year –a cool £10 million over its 25-year life. Something else Farming Today neglected to mention was the title of Dr Etherington's book, The Wind Farm Scam.
BBC propaganda on wind farms....
from gayandright.blogspot.com
They're trying to sell farmers on the idea...
When the BBC runs one of its propaganda campaigns in favour of windfarms, as Farming Today was again doing recently, the only point of interest is how many of the basic facts they leave out. One thing they invariably try to conceal is how derisory is the amount of electricity these windmills produce.
Although Farming Today interviewed one of the sternest technical critics of wind turbines, Dr John Etherington, a retired environmental academic who has just published an excellent book on the nuts and bolts of wind power, they asked him with seemingly wide-eyed disbelief how he could justify his claim that turbines generate less than 30 per cent of their capacity.
Yet, as any half-way competent journalist should know, this information is freely available on the climate change department's website. The very last thing the BBC ever wants to admit – though the information is available from the same source – is that the total amount of power produced by all the 2,300 turbines so far built in Britain amounts on average to a mere 900 megawatts, barely the output of a single medium-size conventional power station.
The other point the BBC is always careful to conceal is how much money the developers make from these windmills, thanks to the near 100 per cent hidden subsidy we all pay them through our electricity bills. Farming Today was quite happy to encourage farmers to lease their land by telling them that they could hope to make up to £20,000 a year from each 2 megawatt turbine. What they did not explain was that the same turbine will yield its developer around £400,000 a year –a cool £10 million over its 25-year life. Something else Farming Today neglected to mention was the title of Dr Etherington's book, The Wind Farm Scam.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Orangeville Banner from Lois Oliver
Orangeville Banner Part 3 of 3
The last of the Orangeville Banner series
Too bad the Digby Courier or Chronical Herald would not do an indepth
series on wind farm related issues
lois
MOE pledges ongoing research on turbines, health
Thursday November 19 2009
By Richard Vivian
SPECIAL REPORT:
Conclusion of the three-part series
Provincial plans to create a streamlined approval process for
renewable energy projects have been met with a bevy of objections —
from proponents, municipal leaders, and those who believe wind
turbines negatively impact human health — and a court challenge.
The government introduced its Green Energy Act earlier this year.
Officials tout it as a means of creating “green” jobs and helping the
government live up to its oft-delayed promise of eliminating
coal-fired power plants.
Many stakeholders, however, aren’t entirely pleased with what’s on the table.
Wind energy proponents feel it takes away their flexibility in placing
turbines; municipal councils abhor losing their ability to negotiate
with project owners; and some people feel the act doesn’t go far
enough to protect residents.
Perhaps the most significant hot-button issue is the 550-metre minimum
separation between renewable energy projects and residences..
Previously, host municipalities are responsible for negotiating
setbacks using their planning authority, which can be — and, in some
cases, has been — overruled by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
“It’s inadequate. We have evidence people living as far away as 1,500
metres are experiencing serious side effects from wind turbines,”
insists Beth Harrington of Wind Concerns Ontario, a grassroots
organization formed to raise the profile of reported health impacts
associated with industrial wind turbines. “It’s very serious what’s
going on.”
Some people who live near turbines, including several in Dufferin, say
they suffer headaches, fatigue, a ringing in the ears and more. No one
contacted by The Banner has documented evidence to draw a direct
connection between their symptoms and the turbines, but they say the
symptoms didn’t appear until the turbines were turned on.
An application was filed Oct. 19 seeking a judicial review of the Act
based on the precautionary principal, which suggests if something
can’t be proven safe, it shouldn’t be used.
The application, filed by a Prince Edward County man, claims there is
more than sufficient uncertainty surrounding wind development for the
court to strike down portions of the legislation until “proper” health
studies are conducted.
“The actions of this government have turned the precautionary
principle on its head,” says Dr. Robert McMurtry, former dean of
medicine at the University of Western Ontario, who has repeatedly
asked the provincial government to stop approving wind power projects
until a full epidemiological study has been completed.
“People are leaving their homes. Some people have had to be admitted
to hospital with hypertensive episodes,” McMurtry says.
“All the victims have one thing in common. When they go back home, or
near the wind farms, they’re worse and when they get away, they’re
better.”
Canadian Hydro Developers, which operates a 133-turbine wind farm in
the county, acknowledges it purchased the homes of at least two
residents who reported health problems related to the turbines;
however, the majority of residents around the turbines have not
reported any health problems or filed noise complaints.
“We did a jurisdictional comparison of what other countries in Europe
are doing and what they’re doing in the [United] States,” Kate Jordan,
Ministry of the Environment (MOE) spokesperson says of how the
550-metre setback was determined. “We based that framework both on
that jurisdictional scan and the science and the modelling work that
our staff did here.
“That is a protective and progressive approach that we have taken.”
Previously, setbacks were largely determined based on the MOE noise
guideline — a 40-decibel limit at the point of reception.
“We felt that was a very evidence-based process in terms of
determining setbacks. ... We have expressed concern [with the Green
Energy Act] because it does seem somewhat arbitrary, the selection of
the number,” says Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind
Energy Association (CanWEA).
“We feel we’ve actually had a very effective regulatory framework in
Ontario that has helped to determine setbacks. The use of that has
determined that some turbines can be built closer than 550 metres and
some turbines cannot be built that close and have to be built further
away,” he says, noting setbacks across the province “generally” range
between 400 and 700 metres.
Municipalities across the province passed resolutions opposing the
Act’s setbacks, including many local communities.
Conscious of reported negative health impacts, the province will fund
an academic research chair to keep on top of the latest science and
technology associated with renewable energy projects, especially wind
turbines, explains Jordan.
“That chair’s role will be to research potential public health effects
of renewable energy projects as new information and new science
emerges. That will ensure that our approvals continue to be protective
of public health and the environment. That work will be ongoing,” she
says.
“There are more details to come on that this fall. We’re just looking
at the options right now for establishing the chair.”
Currently, the MOE doesn’t have any regulatory standards regarding
low-frequency noise — something the chair will be charged with
considering. Any recommendations brought forward by the chair are to
be reviewed by ministry staff for potential implementation.
“We intend to participate in the public process, as well as respond to
the various ministries involved,” Harrington says in reference to the
research chair’s work. “We don’t think the government should proceed
any further until these things have been looked into very closely.”
At 550, the new provincial setback is 100 metres farther than exists
today in Amaranth and part of Melancthon, home to Canadian Hydro’s
EcoPower Centre. Amaranth Mayor Don MacIver believes the increased
separation is a step in the right direction, but he questions whether
it’s enough.
“We’ve had quite a bit of concern over the current wind farm — the
transformer noise and the turbine noise,” he says.
“What I see with the Green Energy Act ... it’s going to open up the
township to a lot more wind turbine development in all sorts of
different areas. And we won’t have any power to help make
adjustments,” the mayor adds.
Through the act, a one-stop shop for renewable energy projects will be
created to help initiatives get off the ground more quickly. As part
of that streamlined process, several regulatory processes have been
amalgamated.
In doing so, the province has taken away municipal involvement.
Planning approvals, environmental assessments, certificates of
approval and other authorizations are now handled by a single
provincial body.
“We fought for everything to try to protect residents,” MacIver says,
referring to an OMB challenge initiated by Canadian Hydro. “The Green
Energy Act takes that away. Our issue was always proper planning —
that any development that comes into the town is subject to proper
planning. It’s not a question of whether you like turbines or not,
it’s a question ... of planning it and putting it in properly.”
The last of the Orangeville Banner series
Too bad the Digby Courier or Chronical Herald would not do an indepth
series on wind farm related issues
lois
MOE pledges ongoing research on turbines, health
Thursday November 19 2009
By Richard Vivian
SPECIAL REPORT:
Conclusion of the three-part series
Provincial plans to create a streamlined approval process for
renewable energy projects have been met with a bevy of objections —
from proponents, municipal leaders, and those who believe wind
turbines negatively impact human health — and a court challenge.
The government introduced its Green Energy Act earlier this year.
Officials tout it as a means of creating “green” jobs and helping the
government live up to its oft-delayed promise of eliminating
coal-fired power plants.
Many stakeholders, however, aren’t entirely pleased with what’s on the table.
Wind energy proponents feel it takes away their flexibility in placing
turbines; municipal councils abhor losing their ability to negotiate
with project owners; and some people feel the act doesn’t go far
enough to protect residents.
Perhaps the most significant hot-button issue is the 550-metre minimum
separation between renewable energy projects and residences..
Previously, host municipalities are responsible for negotiating
setbacks using their planning authority, which can be — and, in some
cases, has been — overruled by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
“It’s inadequate. We have evidence people living as far away as 1,500
metres are experiencing serious side effects from wind turbines,”
insists Beth Harrington of Wind Concerns Ontario, a grassroots
organization formed to raise the profile of reported health impacts
associated with industrial wind turbines. “It’s very serious what’s
going on.”
Some people who live near turbines, including several in Dufferin, say
they suffer headaches, fatigue, a ringing in the ears and more. No one
contacted by The Banner has documented evidence to draw a direct
connection between their symptoms and the turbines, but they say the
symptoms didn’t appear until the turbines were turned on.
An application was filed Oct. 19 seeking a judicial review of the Act
based on the precautionary principal, which suggests if something
can’t be proven safe, it shouldn’t be used.
The application, filed by a Prince Edward County man, claims there is
more than sufficient uncertainty surrounding wind development for the
court to strike down portions of the legislation until “proper” health
studies are conducted.
“The actions of this government have turned the precautionary
principle on its head,” says Dr. Robert McMurtry, former dean of
medicine at the University of Western Ontario, who has repeatedly
asked the provincial government to stop approving wind power projects
until a full epidemiological study has been completed.
“People are leaving their homes. Some people have had to be admitted
to hospital with hypertensive episodes,” McMurtry says.
“All the victims have one thing in common. When they go back home, or
near the wind farms, they’re worse and when they get away, they’re
better.”
Canadian Hydro Developers, which operates a 133-turbine wind farm in
the county, acknowledges it purchased the homes of at least two
residents who reported health problems related to the turbines;
however, the majority of residents around the turbines have not
reported any health problems or filed noise complaints.
“We did a jurisdictional comparison of what other countries in Europe
are doing and what they’re doing in the [United] States,” Kate Jordan,
Ministry of the Environment (MOE) spokesperson says of how the
550-metre setback was determined. “We based that framework both on
that jurisdictional scan and the science and the modelling work that
our staff did here.
“That is a protective and progressive approach that we have taken.”
Previously, setbacks were largely determined based on the MOE noise
guideline — a 40-decibel limit at the point of reception.
“We felt that was a very evidence-based process in terms of
determining setbacks. ... We have expressed concern [with the Green
Energy Act] because it does seem somewhat arbitrary, the selection of
the number,” says Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind
Energy Association (CanWEA).
“We feel we’ve actually had a very effective regulatory framework in
Ontario that has helped to determine setbacks. The use of that has
determined that some turbines can be built closer than 550 metres and
some turbines cannot be built that close and have to be built further
away,” he says, noting setbacks across the province “generally” range
between 400 and 700 metres.
Municipalities across the province passed resolutions opposing the
Act’s setbacks, including many local communities.
Conscious of reported negative health impacts, the province will fund
an academic research chair to keep on top of the latest science and
technology associated with renewable energy projects, especially wind
turbines, explains Jordan.
“That chair’s role will be to research potential public health effects
of renewable energy projects as new information and new science
emerges. That will ensure that our approvals continue to be protective
of public health and the environment. That work will be ongoing,” she
says.
“There are more details to come on that this fall. We’re just looking
at the options right now for establishing the chair.”
Currently, the MOE doesn’t have any regulatory standards regarding
low-frequency noise — something the chair will be charged with
considering. Any recommendations brought forward by the chair are to
be reviewed by ministry staff for potential implementation.
“We intend to participate in the public process, as well as respond to
the various ministries involved,” Harrington says in reference to the
research chair’s work. “We don’t think the government should proceed
any further until these things have been looked into very closely.”
At 550, the new provincial setback is 100 metres farther than exists
today in Amaranth and part of Melancthon, home to Canadian Hydro’s
EcoPower Centre. Amaranth Mayor Don MacIver believes the increased
separation is a step in the right direction, but he questions whether
it’s enough.
“We’ve had quite a bit of concern over the current wind farm — the
transformer noise and the turbine noise,” he says.
“What I see with the Green Energy Act ... it’s going to open up the
township to a lot more wind turbine development in all sorts of
different areas. And we won’t have any power to help make
adjustments,” the mayor adds.
Through the act, a one-stop shop for renewable energy projects will be
created to help initiatives get off the ground more quickly. As part
of that streamlined process, several regulatory processes have been
amalgamated.
In doing so, the province has taken away municipal involvement.
Planning approvals, environmental assessments, certificates of
approval and other authorizations are now handled by a single
provincial body.
“We fought for everything to try to protect residents,” MacIver says,
referring to an OMB challenge initiated by Canadian Hydro. “The Green
Energy Act takes that away. Our issue was always proper planning —
that any development that comes into the town is subject to proper
planning. It’s not a question of whether you like turbines or not,
it’s a question ... of planning it and putting it in properly.”
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities asks for Wind Turbine Research
CBC News
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is asking Ottawa to fund more scientific research into the potential health effects of wind turbines.
The organization has asked the government to focus on two areas: low-frequency noise and electrical disturbances from industrial-scale wind developments. The issue was raised in September by three municipalities from Ontario at a national board of directors meeting.
“It’s to ask the federal minister of health to look in to see if everything is OK for health and safety,” federation president Basil Stewart told CBC News on Tuesday.
Stewart recently oversaw the approval of four wind turbines in his hometown of Summerside, P.E.I., which are expected to start producing power before the end of the month.
“I know we in Summerside followed all the provincial and federal regulations and guidelines,” he said.
“FCM hasn’t take a position on it because there are communities across the country for it and against it.”
Stewart said there’s been no word from Ottawa whether it will pay for new research into these areas.
CBC News
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is asking Ottawa to fund more scientific research into the potential health effects of wind turbines.
The organization has asked the government to focus on two areas: low-frequency noise and electrical disturbances from industrial-scale wind developments. The issue was raised in September by three municipalities from Ontario at a national board of directors meeting.
“It’s to ask the federal minister of health to look in to see if everything is OK for health and safety,” federation president Basil Stewart told CBC News on Tuesday.
Stewart recently oversaw the approval of four wind turbines in his hometown of Summerside, P.E.I., which are expected to start producing power before the end of the month.
“I know we in Summerside followed all the provincial and federal regulations and guidelines,” he said.
“FCM hasn’t take a position on it because there are communities across the country for it and against it.”
Stewart said there’s been no word from Ottawa whether it will pay for new research into these areas.
Noise Bylaws
Council passes bylaw to control noise
» Original source is provided at end of article «
Arran-Elderslie has passed a new noise control bylaw. The bylaw will
prohibit and regulate excessive noise and associated vibration, said
chief administrative officer/clerk A. P. Crawford.
There is no enforceable noise control bylaw in the municipality, she
said. Three pre-amalgamation bylaws for Chesley, Tara and Paisley, now
more than 10 years old “are all out of date and contain invalid
references due to amendments to provincial legislation,” she said.
The new bylaw covers everything from barking dogs and noisy vehicles
to loud parties.
Paisley ward Coun. Jack Riley called much of the new bylaw “nonsense”
saying “common sense should prevail.”
Crawford noted “not always does common sense prevail with some people.”
She said municipal staff have received “many complaints over the
spring and summer months with respect to excessive noise and has had
no standards against which to evaluate and determine if the noise is
actually excessive and therefore had no legal means to deal with
infractions.”
The new bylaw differentiates between quiet zones, residential zones
and all other zones within the municipality and provides for differing
standards within each type of zone, based on needs. It also recognizes
the requirements for farm machinery in agricultural areas.
One portion deals with noise and vibration which both Crawford and
Elderslie ward Coun. Mark Davis said could be used in council’s fight
to stop the construction of large industrial wind turbines in the
municipality.
Staff will now apply for set fines under the Provincial Offences Act
to simplify enforcement of the bylaw through the issue of infraction
notices, Crawford said.
By MARY GOLEM, SUN TIMES CORRESPONDENT
The Sun Times
www.owensoundsuntimes.com
» Original source is provided at end of article «
Arran-Elderslie has passed a new noise control bylaw. The bylaw will
prohibit and regulate excessive noise and associated vibration, said
chief administrative officer/clerk A. P. Crawford.
There is no enforceable noise control bylaw in the municipality, she
said. Three pre-amalgamation bylaws for Chesley, Tara and Paisley, now
more than 10 years old “are all out of date and contain invalid
references due to amendments to provincial legislation,” she said.
The new bylaw covers everything from barking dogs and noisy vehicles
to loud parties.
Paisley ward Coun. Jack Riley called much of the new bylaw “nonsense”
saying “common sense should prevail.”
Crawford noted “not always does common sense prevail with some people.”
She said municipal staff have received “many complaints over the
spring and summer months with respect to excessive noise and has had
no standards against which to evaluate and determine if the noise is
actually excessive and therefore had no legal means to deal with
infractions.”
The new bylaw differentiates between quiet zones, residential zones
and all other zones within the municipality and provides for differing
standards within each type of zone, based on needs. It also recognizes
the requirements for farm machinery in agricultural areas.
One portion deals with noise and vibration which both Crawford and
Elderslie ward Coun. Mark Davis said could be used in council’s fight
to stop the construction of large industrial wind turbines in the
municipality.
Staff will now apply for set fines under the Provincial Offences Act
to simplify enforcement of the bylaw through the issue of infraction
notices, Crawford said.
By MARY GOLEM, SUN TIMES CORRESPONDENT
The Sun Times
www.owensoundsuntimes.com
Labels:
wind turbine noise bylaws
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