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Public comment sought on wind turbine health effects, setbacks
Published Saturday, August 1, 2009
ALBERT LEA — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will accept public comments in response to a document on the health effects of wind turbines and the issue of wind turbine setbacks.
The comment period is in response to “Public Health Impacts of Wind Turbines,” a document prepared by the environmental health division of the Minnesota Department of Health. The public comments will help the PUC determine whether or not to change the current setback conditions.
“Right now we’re just waiting to see what kind of comments we get before we determine how to move forward. We’re just looking for input from all sides on this issue,” said Tricia DeBleeckere of the PUC.
She said the commission often does investigations like this when members of the public request them.
The PUC will accept initial comments until 4:30 p.m., Sept. 16. Then there will be an additional period for reply comments until 4:30 p.m., Oct. 14.
DeBleeckere said the PUC is attempting to move forward with pending projects, but any decisions otherwise would be made by the commissioners.
“Depending on what we find, and what the comments say, we’ll determine how we move forward, and that’s the commissioners’ decision,” DeBleeckere said.
Construction on Bent Tree Wind Farm is pending approval on a certificate of need and a site application. That decision is anticipated sometime in August.
The 29-page “Public Health Impacts of Wind Turbines,” sometimes called the white paper, refers to Bent Tree as one of the proposed sites in the state.
The document reports on the sounds and vibrations caused by wind turbines and the affect these can have on humans.
The Freeborn Country group Safe Wind lobbied for more research to be done on wind turbine setbacks at a public hearing June 29.
“On setbacks, I think they need professional help. I’m not professional, and I’m not claiming to be professional. But I feel like I can read these studies and I can see that there is a need that Minnesota needs to look at this in different light. We need to investigate this,” said Katie Troe.
Currently, the state requires a minimum 500-foot setback from homes, and the setbacks must follow the state noise ordinance, which calls for set backs of 750-1,500 feet. There’s also a minimum 250-foot setback from public roads and recreational trails.
“Public Health Impacts of Wind Turbines” is available at www.energy facilities.puc.state.mn.us.
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Comments
Posted by milesaway (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let them come in. They are quieter than sitting on the porch day or evening when people travel the streets with their music booming so loud it vibrates the windows in the house. No one seems to care about that. Sure there is suppose to be an ordince but it is never enforced or they wouldn't be so loud. Let the turbines come at least people have alternatives for energy, jobs, and money to help the economy.
Posted by metisman (anonymous) on August 2, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not-In-My-By-Yard [NIMBY] syndrome at work.
Posted by rjlhome (anonymous) on August 14, 2009 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unless you live within 1/2 mile or less from one, you really have no idea what the impacts are. We have about 4 within 1/2 mile and over 200 within 10 miles. To believe as the industry and even state claim that there is NO IMPACT, is crazy. There is the noise, maybe less than the legal max, but much louder than without them. There is the visual pollution, they block natural views during the day. At night it is worse, imagine about 300 flashing red lights surrounding you every night. One of the worst visual aspects is the shadow flicker we receive most mornings about 1/2 of the year. This is the shadow of the blades causing a flashing of dark and then light @ every second until the sun is up aways.
I believe wind energy is a good thing, we just need to stop pretending there is no impact to anyone. If the wind power is so good right next to someones home and they are not involved in the project, there should be some protection to either make them stay back at least 1/2 mile or negotiate a fair compensation for all the REAL impacts to peoples lives
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