Better Plan, Wisconsin

Better Plan will continue with our look at the PSC's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Glacier Hills Wind Farm proposed for the Towns of Randolph and Scott in Columbia county. 

BUT FIRST--- a quick look at the similarity of response between Big Wind and Big Tobacco when it comes growing concerns about negative public health impacts caused by their products.

 In 1954, as the public was first becoming aware of evidence linking cigarette smoke with cancer, Big Tobacco was already mobilizing a public relations campain that included a full page advertisement published nationally called "A Frank Statement to Cigarette Smokers" [Click here to read entire text]

Exerpt:

Distinguished authorities point out:

• That medical research of recent years indicates many possible causes of lung cancer.

• That there is no agreement among the authorities regarding what the cause is.

• That there is no proof that cigarette smoking is one of the causes.

• That statistics purporting to link cigarette smoking with the disease could apply with equal force to any one of many other aspects of modern life. Indeed the validity of the statistics themselves is questioned by numerous scientists.

The signators to this statement are:

THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, INC.
BURLEY TOBACCO GROWERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
PHILLIP MORRIS & CO. LTD., INC.
BENSON & HEDGES
LARUS & BROTHER COMPANY, INC.
R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
BRIGHT BELT WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATION
P. LORILLARD COMPANY
STEPHANO BROTHERS, INC.
BROWN & WILLIAMSON TOBACCO CORPORATION
MARLYAND TOBACCO GROWERS ASSOCIATION
TOBACCO ASSOCIATES, INC..
BURLEY AUCTION WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATION
UNITED STATES TOBACCO COMPANY

As negative health effects of living too close to industrial wind turbines are being reported by wind farm residents world wide, wind developers are following in Big Tobacco's footsteps by denying that problems exist.

NOTE: THIS NOT A SCALE MODEL. Modern wind turbines are 40 to 50 stories tall

Recently, a spokes person for Acciona, one of the largest wind developers in the world made this statement regarding questions about wind turbine impacts on public health:

"Acciona Energy is not aware of any investigation but would willingly participate with confidence, knowing there is no clear, consistent scientific data, nor a peer-reviewed scientific consensus, to confirm a connection between modern wind turbines and health concerns." [source]

(Incidentally, Acciona claims to own exclusive rights to develop industrial wind farms in Rock County, Wisconsin. These rights were sold to them by EcoEnergy, LLC [source])

 And what do wind developers have to say about concerns raised by a recent report from the Minnesota Department of health regarding public health impacts of industrial wind turbines?

This report identifies 2640 feet as the setback beyond which wind turbine noise and shadow flicker were not a major concern.

Wind developers insist on a 500 to 1000 foot setback for reasons of profit, no matter what the impact may be to public health. The ability to continue with these setbacks relies on the consistant industry-wide denial of any negative health impacts cased by siting industrial wind turbines too close to home.

[click here for the entire Minnesota Department of Health report]

[click here for the entire developer's response]

Wind developers response:

"....We believe that the best evidence available indicates that wind turbines do not cause adverse health effects from low-frequency sound or infra sound and compliance with existing noise standards and setback requirements is protective of health and safety.

Signators to this document include:

CPV RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY, LLC
ELEMENT POWER, LLC
ENXCO INC.
GERONIMO WIND ENERGY LLC
GOODHUE WIND LLC
HALF MOOK POWER LLC
HIGH COUNTRY ENERGY LLC
LAKE COUNTY WIND ENERGY LLC
LITTLE ROCK WIND LLC
NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES LLC
NORFOLK WIND ENERGY LLC
PROJECTS RESOURCES CORP.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AMERICAS, INC
TURNING POINT MANAGEMENT, INC
WIND CAPITOL GROUP, LLC

The PSC is now taking comments on the Glacier Hills EIS. If you'd like to comment on the impact of 90 wind turbines on residents forced to live with the proposed 1000 foot setbacks, CLICK HERE To review the entire docket for this project CLICK HERE and enter docket number 6630-CE-302.