Proper Wind Turbine Set-Backs for Georgian Bluffs

Large wind energy turbines:

Generate a wide range of noises and vibration, day and night, that cause loss of sleep, headaches, tinnitus, irritability, dizziness, nausea, and other symptoms in people who live near them.

Raise noise levels to a degree that is incompatible with the rural or wild environment in which they are typically sited.

Create intrusive shadow flicker over a long distance when the sun is behind the turning blades. May shed and throw large pieces of ice over a great distance.

Are subject to stresses that often cause catastrophic blade failure, collapse, and fire.

Large wind turbines therefore need adequate setbacks to protect the health and safety of nearby residents. A minimum distance of 2 kilometers (or 1-1/4 miles) between homes and the turbines is recommended by a number of noise and health experts.

In certain terrains, such as rolling hills, in quiet rural areas, and under some climatic conditions, greater distances of 3-5 km (~2-3 mi) are required to protect the health and welfare of neighbors. Any specified setback, however, must be part of a robust set of regulations to also limit noise and protect the environment and landscape.

For more information, see

www.windconcernsontario.org