August 6, 2015
1489
Kincardine council is considering a proposal to conduct a baseline noise study at the Armow Wind farm site, prior to the turbines becoming operational at the end of the year.
In committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (Aug. 5), Deborah Morris of Huron-Kinloss Against Lakeside Turbines (HALT) urged council to do the testing, noting that the municipality enacted a bylaw in March, 2013, that states, "... that municipal tax revenue from wind turbines, up to $100,000 per annum in the Armow Wind development, be allocated to a designated fund to allow council to purchase services of appropriate professionals to conduct noise studies that will allow the municipality to confirm whether noise levels are within provincially-mandated limits."
Morris said that the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and operators of the Enbridge Ontario wind farm (in Kincardine) cannot confirm that this existing project is in compliance with the Green Energy Act noise requirements. In addition, MOE representatives from Owen Sound said two years ago that Enbridge is emitting infrasound and low-frequency sound but there is no protocol to deal with that.
"We're asking council to enact its bylaw from March, 2013," said Morris, "and do noise-testing at the Armow Wind farm, as well as the existing wind farm sites. Once Armow is operating, the opportunity to do this baseline testing is over."
Deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert supported obtaining this baseline data and noted it is time-sensitive.
"Is there any MOE protocol for this? asked councillor Laura Haight.
"No," said chief administrative officer Murray Clarke.
Morris then welcomed Kevin Dooley of Kevin Allan Dooley Inc., to discuss his discoveries about infrasound and motion sickness.
He explained that motion sickness is brought on by a sensory conflict in the central nervous system, encompassing the inner ear, touch and visual components. He said mixed information hits the brain causing Sopite Syndrome which brings on symptoms such as vomiting, sleep disturbances, dizziness and nausea, mood changes, drowsiness, apathy, yawning and a disinclination for work.
Dooley believes that this sensory conflict is what is causing problems for people who live near industrial wind turbines; and these symptoms are causing stress for those affected.
For about 85 per cent of the population, there are no effects, he said, but for the remaining 15 per cent, there is a sensitivity to infrasound. "We are currently working on a device to suppress infrasound in the home," he said.
Faubert asked if the sensitivity to infrasound is like a peanut butter allergy, in that it affects some people but not others.
"Yes," said Dooley. "And that 15 per cent might find the symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, will hit them hours later after being exposed. Infrasound is relatively new; it's a misunderstood problem because it's not the infrasound that's the issue, it's the sensory conflict it causes."
Haight asked what council would do with the data from the baseline study once it were collected, since the province is the body that regulates industrial wind turbines, not the municipality.
Dooley said having the baseline data is important so council has information with which to compare new data once the turbines are operational.
"But it's the province that has control of this," said Haight. "If we find that the infrasound levels have increased by 10 per cent, what can we do? Why is there not a discussion about this happening with the MOE and the provincial medical officer of health? Why is this not being dealt with by the Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group? Even if we do find elevated noise levels, the Municipality of Kincardine can do nothing."
"You can do nothing to stop the infrasound, but we can suppress the infrasound in homes. If people are suffering (from nearby wind turbines), you may want an avenue to help them. There's just not enough research yet."
Haight continued to argue that the MOE is the one that is regulating the wind industry, not the municipality. "We're making a health linkage here, not the province."
Councillor Linda McKee said the MOE isn't doing anything, so the municipality must take care of its citizens, itself.
Faubert asked Dooley about the process.
"Take measurements inside homes downwind of the turbines," he said, "and do the same thing once the turbines are operational." He added that there are experts available to help collect the baseline data.
Clarke presented a report, regarding noise and sound emissions associated with the Armow Wind project.
He said the development is slated to be commissioned and commence operations before Dec. 31, 2015. "Staff has initiated discussions with the developer on moving ahead with the peer review of the G.L. Garrad Hassan Noise Impact Assessment. We are looking at advancing the process which includes selection of a preferred consultant, as well as establishing the scopes of the terms for the peer review."
Clarke said recent discussions have included the idea of carrying out an acoustic field analysis prior to activation of the turbines. After hearing Dooley's presentation, Clarke said this could include infrasound as well.
He noted that any baseline noise study would be paid for by the municipality. Also, under the Renewable Energy Approvals (REA) process, the developer must undertake the same audits at specific intervals (twice) within 18 months after operations commence.
McKee said council needs to do the baseline study to protect its citizens.
"How does data help us?" asked Haight. "We have to engage the MOE. Otherwise, how is having all this data going to make any difference?"
"We have engaged the MOE," said mayor Anne Eadie. "This is one more step. If we collect enough data, maybe the MOE won't ignore it."
"This study could be an innovative effort by this municipality," said Faubert. "We have a huge chunk of all the turbines in Bruce County. We could educate and inform the MOE."
"What would this baseline study cost?" asked councillor Maureen Couture.
Clarke said staff could draw together a report, possibly by next week's meeting (Aug. 12), with respect to a proposal to do a baseline study. Then, council would have some figures to work with, and information for a possible Request for Proposals.
Following a break, committee-of-the-whole returned to the table and agreed to proceed with an independent peer review of the Hassan noise impact assessment.
In addition, committee-of-the-whole agreed to have staff bring back a report regarding what's required to put forward a Request for Proposals for a baseline noise study of the Armow Wind development.
Clarke said staff would attempt to have that report to the Aug. 12 meeting; otherwise, it would come to the Sept. 2 meeting. Or, the mayor could call a special meeting Aug. 19.
Council endorsed those two motions later in the meeting.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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