This letter was issued from Ontario’s then Minister of the Environment Jim Bradley responding to a resident in distress. The only truthful portion in it is the first sentence.  You have to ask yourself what kind of government authority must rely on celebrities to validate their process. As if mentioning Al Gore and David Suzuki would legitimize the awful harm to families. (And of course he brings up Dr. King’s phony review.)

Yup…this what we have to deal with, year after year….PS Ontario had exactly 4 “dirty” coal fired plants but there are hundreds ringing the province south of the border. As if this would have made a dent in Ontarios’ air quality. GMAB.

 

Thank you for your e-mail about wind turbines and an announcement by Health Canada about a two-year wind turbine noise and health study.

 

Experts such as David Suzuki and Al Gore agree the Green Energy Act is making Ontario a global leader in clean energy.  Clean energy is helping us replace dirty coal-fired plants and protect the health of Ontarians for future generations.  The use of coal is down over 90 percent in 2011 compared to 2003, which means cleaner air, fewer hospital visits, and savings on environmental and health care costs.  The Green Energy Act has attracted billions of dollars in investment to this province, and helped create thousands of jobs for Ontarians.

 

The Ontario Government is committed to protecting the natural environment and residents in communities that host future wind projects.  Ontario’s priority is to develop renewable sources of energy in a way that both engages and protects local communities.  Energy developers in Ontario must meet the requirements of the Renewable Energy Approvals Regulation (O. Reg. 359/09) in order to carry out renewable energy projects.  This Regulation is based on the best available science, and protects human health and the environment.

 

In developing setback distances for wind turbines in the Renewable Energy Approvals Regulation, the Ministry of the Environment reviewed leading scientific studies from around the world and looked at how wind projects are regulated in other countries to learn from their standards and setbacks for wind turbines.  There are thousands of operating wind turbines around the world that have produced a body of science and research.  Ontario’s approach is progressive – this province is a leader in establishing clear setbacks for renewable energy projects that are protective of human health and the environment.

 

Ontario has one of the strictest noise criteria in North America, including 550-metre minimum setbacks, based on a 40-decibel noise limit.  This limit is consistent with the World Health Organization’s recommendation for the protection of human health.

 

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued a report which concluded that scientific evidence does not demonstrate a direct causal link between wind turbine sound and adverse health effects.  There is no scientific evidence to date that vibration from low-frequency wind turbine sound causes adverse health effects, according to her report.

 

The ministry is aware of the study regarding wind turbine noise and health announced by Health Canada and we are supportive of non-biased initiatives which further scientific research in this important area.  More information is available on-line at

 

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/consult/_2012/wind_turbine-eoliennes/index-eng.php.

I trust this information is helpful in addressing your concerns.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Jim Bradley

Minister

home:https://ontariowindturbines.com/