Clean, renewable power from abundant natural sources. Remember when that seemed like something that just required harvesting?
Lately wind power can’t shake persistent debate. In Canada, critics charge that wind turbines create visual pollution, depressed property values, danger to migratory birds and a range of health issues for humans living near the massive blades.
A few years ago, the Province of Ontario warmly embraced wind power as a way to reduce current dependence on coal and nuclear power plants. Official provincial support is still strong, although it is also starting to sound defensive. The Dunnville Chronicle reports that Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Jim Bradley, just released a consultant’s report stating:
…the province’s rules to control wind turbine sound are “rigorous” and that Ontario has one of the strictest noise limits in North America, which includes a 550-metre minimum setback based on a 40-decibel level.
Ontario’s initial rush to approve wind farms has slowed as opponents have organized around issues of health. There’s a moratorium on off-shore wind projects (which is not terribly significant as most projects are built on land) and calls for holding off on new land-based wind projects until more studies are done.
Now Canada’s federal government says national safety guidelines for wind power are being developed to address the current province-by-province patch work. As described in this Ottawa Citizen article:
“Health Canada has been working in collaboration with the provinces and territories to draft voluntary Canadian Guidelines for Wind Turbine Noise,” wrote Health Canada spokeswoman Olivia Caron in an email.
“The voluntary draft guidelines are health-based, and focus on minimizing potential impacts such as sleep disturbance by recommending noise limits, sound measurement standards and minimum setback distances from homes and occupied dwellings.”