Submitted to: Public Service Commission of =
Wisconsin=20
Docket No. 1-AC-231 Draft Chapter 128--Wind Energy Systems=20
Request by the Towns of Morrison, Wrightstown and =
Glenmore=20
Brown County, Wisconsin
June 23, 2010
Issue: =
Request to=20
delay issuing the PSCW wind siting standards until =
epidemiological=20
studies of health complaints from Wisconsin`s current wind farms =
are=20
thoroughly completed.
The towns of Morrison, =
Wrightstown, and=20
Glenmore in Brown County are very concerned about the mounting =
evidence=20
that there are serious negative impacts on human and animal =
health=20
caused by wind turbines. It appears it is not only reasonable to =
delay=20
the issuance of wind siting standards but it would be =
irresponsible to=20
not do so in light of new studies and ongoing complaints of =
residents in=20
and near Wisconsin`s existing wind farms.
In general,=20
scientifically and statistically relevant studies have been =
limited.=20
But, a very important report was published March 2010 by the =
World=20
Health Organization (WHO) entitled "Night Noise Guidelines for =
Europe"=20
(available at=20
=
euro.who.int/en/what-we-publish/abstracts/night-noise-guidelines-for-euro=
pe).=20
The report is based on a six-year evaluation of =
scientific=20
evidence by thirty-five scientists from medical and acoustical=20
disciplines. WHO indicated that now governments have =
justifications to=20
regulate noise exposure at night. WHO sets the limit for annual =
average=20
exposure to not exceed 40 decibels (dB) outside of a residence.=20
WHO stated, "Recent research clearly links exposure to =
night=20
noise with harm to health. Sleep disturbance and annoyance are =
the first=20
effects of night noise and can lead to mental disorders. Just =
like air=20
pollution and toxic chemicals, noise is an environmental hazard =
to=20
health". WHO stated that they hope their new report will prompt=20
governments to invest effort and money in protecting health from =
this=20
growing hazard.
Our towns ask the PSCW to acquire the =
WHO report=20
and evaluate its application to setting appropriate sound levels =
for=20
wind turbines.
The PSCW`s draft rules do not address low =
frequency noise levels. It is not known whether the WHO report =
addresses=20
this issue but other studies have described the likely effects. =
This is=20
another area where epidemiological studies are needed before =
wind=20
turbine setbacks can be reasonably proposed.
Besides =
sleep=20
disturbance, there are complaints of other physiological =
problems. It is=20
not acceptable to ignore or minimize the significance of these =
impacts=20
as just quirks of human imagination.
Also, there is =
evidence=20
that existing wind farms in Wisconsin are negatively affecting =
farm=20
animals. Whether it is noise or some other physical phenomena, =
studies=20
and testing should be done before setting siting standards. =
At a=20
public meeting of the Brown County Health Department and the =
Brown=20
County Human Services Committee, reputable medical and health =
experts=20
stressed the importance of epidemiological studies to determine =
the true=20
nature of health impacts of wind turbines.
The State =
Board of=20
Health pointed out that the lack of funding is a hurdle. But a=20
conviction to do the right thing should prompt the PSCW to make =
a case=20
to pursue the money issue with state legislators as well as our =
U.S.=20
senators and representatives. Certainly, our towns would help in =
this=20
endeavor. That said, it is even more appropriate for the wind =
developers=20
and their associations to offer funding for independent studies =
since=20
such studies should reduce future litigation. Electric utilities =
should=20
have a stake in this effort as well. This is an opportunity to =
involve=20
the University of Wisconsin research capabilities in both human =
health=20
and animal health.
It appears that Act 40 does not set a =
deadline for completing the siting rules. This week a state =
senator who=20
was one of the leaders in passing the wind siting law agreed =
that=20
studies should be done to be sure the rules are adequate. If one =
or two=20
years were used to study the existing wind farms while delaying =
any new=20
installations, the developers would still have time to help =
utilities=20
meet their 15% RPS by 2015. Again, if needed, our towns would =
help in=20
getting the support of legislators.
Our towns implore =
the PSCW=20
and the Wind Siting Council to not ignore the evidence of =
potentially=20
serious health impacts and to not set standards until they have =
done the=20
obvious and reasonable step of studying the health impacts of =
existing=20
wind turbine installations in Wisconsin. Professional ethics =
demands no=20
less. We believe our request aligns with the PSCW`s =
responsibility to=20
protect the citizens of Wisconsin.
Submitted for the =
towns by=20
Glen R. Schwalbach, P.E.
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