March 3rd 2011
The wind energy industry in Ontario is pleased with today's Ontario Divisional Court decision to uphold the current regulations for wind turbine setbacks. The application by Ontario resident Ian Hanna suggested, among other things, that the government did not adhere to their own Statement of Environmental Values (SEV) in developing a setback of 550 metres for the siting of wind turbines. The Court ruled that set-back distances were established through an extensive public consultation process which considered the views of a wide range of stakeholders and that the Minister did consider the SEV.
"The wind energy industry is committed to the responsible and sustainable development of wind energy in Ontario and across the country. We have stated from the outset that this application had no merit and should not have been brought before the court," said Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA. "Ontario's set-back regulations are among the most stringent in the world and are designed to protect the health and safety of the public. CanWEA member companies ensure they are in compliance with all regulatory requirements."
The balance of expert scientific and medical information to date clearly indicates there is no direct link between wind turbines and effects on human health, said Hornung. This is backed, he points out, by the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health as well as the National Public Health Institute in Quebec, and a growing body of peer-reviewed scientific and medical information.
"As a responsible industry, we will continue to receive and review new and credible information as it is made available," said Hornung.
Wind energy's growing contribution to Ontario's electricity supply is making Ontario a leader in green energy production, and bringing much-needed jobs and economic opportunities to local communities.
May 2011
This report was prepared by the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of Ontario in response to public health concerns about wind turbines, particularly related to noise.
Assisted by a technical working group comprised of members from the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP), the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and several Medical Officers of Health in Ontario with the support of the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH), this report presents a synopsis of existing scientific evidence on the potential health impact of noise generated by wind turbines.
The review concludes that while some people living near wind turbines report symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and sleep disturbance, the scientific evidence available to date does not demonstrate a direct causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects. The sound level from wind turbines at common residential setbacks is not sufficient to cause hearing impairment or other direct health effects, although some people may find it annoying.