Residents in Pictou County were promised that turbines at a proposed wind farm would be several kilometres away from their homes, but it turns out the blades will be swooshing closer to their doorsteps.
"If they were going to do what they said, not one person would be complaining, but now that has changed," Baileys Brook resident June MacDonald said in a telephone interview Monday.
Ms. MacDonald is upset with the "inconsistencies" in the plan to locate wind turbines at Shear Wind’s proposed $150-million wind farm near Merigomish, Pictou County.
Shear Wind officials told residents in the area last year that the 30 wind turbines would be no closer than three or four kilometres from homes, she said.
Last week, residents discovered Shear Wind would be hooking up turbines closer than originally promised after the company filed a detailed project description, including a turbine map, with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
The company is seeking environmental approval from the federal agency.
Mrs. MacDonald and her husband, Rod, have lived in Baileys Brook on a 500-acre beef farm for the past 34 years.
Under the plan for the Glen Dhu wind farm, she said the couple will be able to see spinning blades from their home as well as a blinking strobe light on a wind tower.
"I’m not against wind turbines and we need alternate sources of energy," said Mrs. MacDonald. "But my biggest concern is the health" issues.
She said her husband suffers from migraines and having a bright flashing light coming through the windows each night would trigger the headaches.
Kristen Overmyer, another Baileys Brook resident, will now live the closest to the wind turbines. A turbine will be less than one kilometre from his house.
"This is egregious," said Mr. Overmyer. "It will be looking right over our house."
Ian Tillard, Shear Wind’s chief operating officer, said 17 of the 30 turbines will be less than two kilometres from homes.
The wind turbine near Mr. Overmyer’s house is being moved closer to avoid the flight pattern of raptors, including vultures, hawks, eagles, ospreys and falcons, said Mr. Tillard.
He said the location of the wind turbines was determined after Shear Wind won its bid in April 2008 to produce 60 megawatts for Nova Scotia Power.
Mr. Tillard said the location of the turbines was determined by the proximity to a powerful transmission line.
Previously, company president Mike Magnus said the turbines would be three to four kilometres away from homes.
Mr. Tillard said Monday those statements were based on using a second transmission line that wasn’t possible.
"The important issue here is we have spent a fair amount of time on design and noise mapping," said Mr. Tillard.
While Shear Wind has moved the location of some turbines, they are still within the bylaws passed by the local municipal council requiring turbines to be at least 600 metres from homes.
Shear Wind will hold open houses on Wednesday and Thursday at the Merigomish fire station and on Sept. 17 and 18 at the Lismore and District Community Centre.
The deadline for making public comments to the agency is Sept. 19.
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