From today's Chronicle Herald
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wind power is renewable, and emission-free but critics complain turbines are noisy, threaten migratory birds and destroy property values
EVEN CANADA’s leading promoter of wind power admits that the industry has to learn from its critics and work with them.
Sean Whittaker, policy director of the Canadian Wind Energy Association of Ottawa, says public concerns can be expected with any new technology.
"Their concerns are definitely legitimate and something we have to take seriously," Mr. Whittaker said recently in Halifax.
"There’s a general understanding within the wind industry that our survival depends on our ability to take those concerns seriously and to act on them.
""It’s important in all these cases that not everything is labelled NIMBY. As soon as somebody has a concern about a wind turbine, you can’t say this is a NIMBY.
""Let’s be honest, wind is fairly new to the economic and political landscape. And it’s perfectly natural that people are going to ask questions about it."
Nova Scotia has one of the best wind-power regimes in North America, according to a Stanford University study. And wind-generated electricity is being pushed by the government because it produces no emissions, is entirely renewable and ranks as one of the cleanest sources of electricity.
But that doesn’t stop critics like Lisa Betts from speaking up.
Ms. Betts, who lives in the scenic Gulf Shore area just outside Pugwash, is opposing a wind farm proposed for her backyard. She has a host of reasons, including the possibility of declining property values.
She purchased her home 14 years ago, hoping it would increase in value and become her retirement fund.
"Our official line is, green is good but in appropriate places, and this isn’t an appropriate place."
Ms. Betts says she is not anti-wind or against renewable energy but argues that projects should be pursued in a responsible way, with more consultation.
She is joined in the battle of the (turbine) blades by one of the area’s most distinguished seasonal residents, singer Anne Murray.
Ms. Betts and 450 other members of the Gulf Shore Preservation Association oppose a developer’s plan to build 20 to 27 large wind turbines in the area.
Last summer, Ms. Murray wrote a commentary in The Chronicle Herald, saying many people want to build their "dream home" in the area. A wind farm would be catastrophic, she said.
Ms. Murray said she supports the idea of wind-generated electricity but opposes the location of the turbines in an area close to where people live and said there are too many unanswered questions concerning the effects of noise, vibration and shadow flicker.
Her comments upset wind developer Charles Demond. He responded that the singer’s remarks are not "helpful" for his business and for the development of wind farms in the province.
Mr. Demond’s company persuaded Cumberland County council last May to approve a bylaw establishing a "setback" distance of 500 metres between turbines and residences.
Like other wind developers, he says this distance is required to hook up to the power grid. A two-kilometre setback requested by people living in the area would kill the project, he says.
That argument doesn’t sway Ms. Betts, who wants Nova Scotia Power to build power lines in remote areas.
For Dianne Powell, 30, of Wentworth Station, a few turbines in the backyard don’t pose a huge problem. She already lives in the shadow of three.
But a proposal to add another 66 units has her upset. She has health concerns about living next to all those wind turbines. And she says building them would be a problem.
"The three here right now are unobtrusive, but another 66 on the top of the ridge would be disruptive," she says. "I really do live in the woods. I ski, walk and hike every day. It is a recreational area."
Like Ms. Betts, Ms. Powell says uniform provincial regulations could pave the way for orderly project development. (So far, the province has said it will let municipalities create guidelines or regulations for wind power projects.)
Edith Callaghan, director of the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment at Acadia University, says a balance has to be struck between the critics and the project sponsors.
"Every individual project needs to be scrutinized, but it doesn’t mean you start off with a position of opposition," says Ms. Callaghan. "You can oppose local development but if you still want to consume electricity, it’s got to come from somewhere. Someone is going to take the hit on this."
Ms. Callaghan says business "doesn’t necessarily have a squeaky-clean record" on the environment. Companies have to be up front about what they are planning and do more community outreach, she says.
Mr. Whittaker agrees.
The wind-power lobbyist says developers must follow the five Cs: consultation, consultation, consultation, construction and more consultation.
"As long as they engage in that consultation, be it a private developer, co-op or community, they can definitely reduce any opposition to it by consulting early and often."
He says most wind developers want to ensure their projects are accepted, and all must undergo an environmental assessment that allows the public to voice any concerns. Issues range from disruption of birds’ migratory patterns to the sound of the blades turning in the wind.
In most cases, he says, developers will make changes in the project to ensure acceptance by the community.
He says when people are opposed to wind power they usually start out talking about noise, birds or health matters. But once those issues are resolved, it boils down to fear of their property value dropping.
Mr. Whittaker tries his best to offer some comfort to homeowners by pointing to a new report prepared for Nova Scotia municipalities. The study shows little evidence that Canadian property values decrease as a result of nearby wind energy projects.
28 comments:
Lisa, You must be the type of person that keeps newspaper clippings of articles that you are mentioned or quoted in.
You know pride is a sin!
This article was written by a business editor.
Business editors typically write about business concerns.
There is a house in Pubnico that can be bought for less than market value and now possibly 2 near the PEI windfarm previously mentioned.
These windfarms have only been operating for a short time.
These have been vacated because of developed health problems related to living near these windfarms.
Curiously this article "forgets " to tell the public of this effect on real estate values?
One of the surprising things about this debate is the strength of the nuclear lobby. The comments about this article in the Chronicle break down as follows:
15 pro wind
5 anti wind
5 pro nuclear
a few undefined
There are three howlers that prove the prove the strength of the disinformation campaign from anti wind forces. They are obviously from people who do not read this blog.
Someone thinks that there are no established, electricity producing wind turbines in Holland just historic water pumps. I think Dutch wind production has been mentioned in PWF blog , if not watch Top Gear on BBC Canada and see the windmills lining the 4 lane highway across the dykes.
Someone else assures us wind power costs $0.30/kwh when this blog has discusses yhe neotiations to sell power to NSPC at a range around $.085.
I thought that the fable that coal plants aren't shut down had a stake driven through its heart last week, but it reared its ugly head with another correspondant.
The point is that there is a multitude of anti wind sites, disseminating the propaganda that plays into the hands of the coal and nuclear industries.
The truth is available , but needs to be searched for: everyone should be questioning every assertion using good old Google.
John McManus
anoymous #1-does yor mommy know yorr playin with her compluter when she's away?
anoymous above. Do you know how to spell? In other words, grow up.
To anonymous that spells your "yor", atleast my mom made me go to school, whereby you were probably home taught in your trailer!
from a 1974 book called Supernature by Lyall Watson -pg 90
...Grey Walter and his associates decided in 1946 to try imposing new patterns on existing brain rhythms through the senses.They began by flashing light at regular intervals into the subjects eyes and found that this flicker produced new,strange patterns on the graphs.(electroencepthlagram).At certain frequencies the flicker produced violent reactions in the subject ,who was suddenly seized by what seemed to be an epileptic fit.
.... Walter exaimened hundreds of people who never had any kit of fit or attack and found that about one in every twenty responded to carefully adjusted flicker.They experienced strange feelings or faintness or swimming in the head;some became unconscious for a few moments or their limbs jerked in rhythm with the light!
....the British Accoustical Society has become concerned about low frequency vibration produced by motor vehicles running at sustained speed ...infrasounds in the 10 to 20 cycles per second range ...can affect us the same way as flickering lights.The society warns that these sounds can produce symptoms of recklesness,euphoria,lower efficeincy,and dizziiness due to loss of balance......that these vibrations might account for a large number of otherwise inexplicable accidents!
Maybe this has something to do with the perceived problems of "flicker" and "noise"from wind farms the industry constantly tries to downplay and why people have to move away from these to get back their normal health?
....so just as Mr.McManus says
seach and you shall find the truth!
Ha! We finally got the above anonymous stuck in hogwash.
I actually know this book by Lyall Watson. As I recall quite clearly Lyall was critiqued quite severely on his sources used in this book. He actually admitted, and I wish I could find a link to the transcript at this moment, that he made some of the stuff up in his book.
As you may be aware the books main focus was on psychokinesis, ESP and telepathy in nature. Some of the experiments that he mentions sound very interesting and garnered a lot of publicity around the time of this books publishing. The only problem; the footnotes nor the author could back up the majority of what was claimed within this novel. So if this were evidence and if we were on trial your evidence would be tossed out on its ear.
I am glad that you believe this to be the truth that you are looking for, because if this is so than you are 1 - looking in the wrong place and 2 - just plain wrong all around!
John
Great stuff?
Your simply amazing!
I've been watching you perform here regularily.
Your lack of scientific intelligence and skills of deception,your dogged persistance in ignoring the truth and making things up!
You have the motivation that only the smell of money can inspire.
Your the perfect candidate for an industry representative.
You've got what it takes!
A wind indudtry rep!
That's right John and a damn good one at that!
Call me.
I can use you .
I need you
Rodney
The Bonehead above is speaking like John is the only who opposes the ideas on this blog. Well news flash there bucko, there are more than one who will persist in adamantly opposing the rediculous ideas posted here.
That whole Rodney MacDonald thing is so yesterday, Moron!
Dear Anonymous:
In Supernature, didn't Lyall Watson claim that pyramid power could sharpen razor blades. Do you really want this type of sillyness.
associated with your claims of vibro- disease from infrasound.
I couldn't find a reference to "Grey Walker, flashing lights" on Google. The Us Epileptic assoc website says strobed affect 3% of eplileptics . The problem appears in those under 20 years old and is mitigated by frquecy, intensity and distance and is caused by flashes in the 5-30 hz range. A turbine rotor with 3 blades spinning at 16 rmp should produce flashes at 48 hz. I have looked at the sun through th spinning rotor at Rodney, and idn't realizeI had experienced shaow flicker until I was half way home. It didn't register because it was not noticable to me.
I could find noting on motor vehcle vibrations , Britsh Acousical Society ( or variation) on the web.
If you can point me to info on these two topics, please post it on this blog.
To Rodney:
Please let me know what information I have been making up. I will post referecnes here. I was unaware Mr. Premier that you were pushing wind poer. I don't think you are nearly active enough in this area.
Did you hear about the new nuclear plant proposed for Ontario. Big enough to supply NS, NB, PEI and part of Maine. I guess the nuclear lobby is powerful. This plant will replace damaged nuclear reactors and some coal and oil plants. If my math is right, 3500 megs for $15b is about the same cost as 7000 wind turbines producing 3500 megs. The estimated nuclear cost is $8-15b, but who ever heard of a nuclear plant without a huge cost overrun?
John McManus
Mr.McManus
At the back of the book mentioned above is a bibliography of 347 references the author who has a PhD in biology i think, very carefully referes to throughout as his source of materials.
The extract presented here is referenced to a book called the Living Brain by W.G. Walter.
It is readily available on ebay or amazon.
You might invest in this to gain some insight as to some of the problems that people living near a wind farm may have?
You may also gain some insight as to yours and this remarkable power of memory recall you have.
Remembering a writers critique for a book you obviosly have not read that was written 35 years ago at a time probably of your school yard years and of such heady topic that it would be above your interest is no easy feat for mere mortals.
Have you considered capitalizing on this with appearances on the Price is Right or Jeopardy?
...or maybe you have been watching to many reruns of" Fantasy Island or the Twilight Zone "and you have imagined this?
The above statement obviously comes from someone who really thinks that this blog is between the "don't want a wind farm anywhere" and John McManus. Well you are wrong. I am the one who provided the details on the critiques of Supernature and I did not need to remember the days when the book was first published. The information relative to Lyall Watson's critiques are quite public and you did not need to be around in the days that they were first published in order to remember them. Like always when you do your research, you go directly to what you think supports your argument and not to what could contradict it. The point and fact still stands that Lyall Watson did receive a great deal of critiscims for this book and he did advise his critics that some of what he posted in the book was actually made up. He also has a therory that is still being debated about the "100th Monkey", which is very intersting. But aside from bashing Lyall, perhaps you want to go back and recount the areas where you are continuing to look for support where there is none. Sure The Living Brain was a great book that made W.G. Walter a pioneer in the study of epilepsy, but in reality the focus on that book, which was published over 50 years ago does not help your argument, because the strobing effect from a strobe light cannot be compared to the shadow flicker possibilties, which your are trying to tie to wind farms and particualry the poposed one in Pugwash. A long time ago on this blog it was advised that this wind farm would be built on an east - west axis and the sun would only pass by the blades for less than a minute at sunset and sunrise thus eliminating the stobing or shadow flicker effects, which you are so scared of. So while you continue to put your faith with people like Lyall Watson who are more about ESP, Telepathy and the paranormal, why don't you instead come back to earth from your real life fantasy isalnd and twilight zone and deal in facts!
Signed,
Still Anonymous and not gonna make one red cent off this proposed wind farm!
McAnus's brain must have had a breakdown in his super power memory and he forgot to tell us windmills don't spin fast all th time and 19 of them spins all different and standin g in front of one for 15 minutes in the middle of winter ain't the same as livin by one 24 hours a day.
Any body that got nothin better to do than to pretend he jump in his snowshoes and crawl thrugh the woods to a windmill in the middle of winter to see if its gonna be flickering is got some kinda silly head problem!
Last week was calm and if he went on saturday maybe the fluffy snowstorm gave him an optical illusion the blades were spinning?
or maybe the flicker flicked his super brain off so that proves these ain't safe.
The phony moron should be reading books on Disneyland
The units are called Wind Turbines, not Windmills.
wind turbine - a turbine that is driven by the wind.
windmill - Something, such as a toy pinwheel, that is similar to a windmill in appearance or operation
Don't worry John, people that go off subject and spin their heads in a mary-go-round world haven't clue what they are talking about. Looks like you struck a few nerves because they know your right and they are wrong, thumbs up to you John.
Kudos to John for once again bringing out the best in this anti wind movement. The trailer trash wannabe that shows up here now again is metaphorically the best thing this movement has got, because the one truth that exists here is that most of the anti wind advocates don't know squat!
For those of you just joining the show the above post "up close and personal with Llyall Watson "has been produced in pretendence by none other than John McManus .
It is the joint effort of a 10 minute google search,a view of a book cover on ebay and John's great imagination.
John is away on "Fantasy Island" so his split personality is sitting in with us.
It is believed that John is sponsered by local wind industry construction associates.We are not sure whether he is being paid by the word or performance.
John has been under great stress to meet his quota of bullpoop -the methane from which he uses to heat his house and due to recent exposure to a local wind turbine has had a relapse of his psychopathic mental deficiency.
He forgot that wind turbines rotate 360 degrees and can reflect or create shadows from sunlight,moonlight,reflected snow light and possibly radar,microwave,wireless internet,radio and television signals(broadcasts of the Twilight Zone being most dangerous) in a pulsed manner.
These low frequency modulations have been shown to alter and modify normal low frequency brain wave activity and thus John's present problem is possibly a product of this affect.
Our thoughts and prayers go out for him and his loved ones for his safe return from "Fantasy Island"and that he may continue his valiant efforts to con the good folk of Pugwash.-although possibly disguised as a secret agent for Rodney this time!
Like I said John, your right and the Fantasy Island want-a-be above is wrong, wrong, wrong. This persons nerves must be burning, lol. Thumbs up buddy
Thanks for the infoon W. Grey Walker: I couldn't find anything without the W. Coincdently, my wife is having an EEG in 3 weeks. Thanks Grey.
My spelling isn't as bad as it looked last post. I needed new batteries in my keyboard and didn't have time to edit.
I was around for pyramid power: I didn't just get the idea from an ebay ad. It made as much sense then as now. Did Lyall also recommend tin foil hats to combat the 'Bristol Hum"? Some still fear electromagnetic waves.
My encounter with flicker at Rodney was last summer. It wouldn't have mattered how long I stayed there, the shadow moves quickly and can be seen for only a few minutes a day in any one spot.
When I was checking out local turbines. I also checked for vibration. I felt nothing even standing within 2 feet of the tower. It was only when I actually put my palm on the tower that I could perceive a slight vibration.
It's nice to see that there are a number of people ready to support wind energy following this blog.
Jon McManus
It really is too bad that a blog like this can be a free for all to say whatever you want without fear of any form of reprieve. I say this because too often folks against wind projects step very close to the libel line of the law.
John is not alone and he is not working for any wind farm developers or the government, who by the way is the worst fence sitter of any government ever in this region! He has implicitly stated many times that if you want to challenge him then simply call him. Don't stand behind books that are outdated, don't deal directly with the point at hand and in some cases are so ridiculous that anyone with half a brain would never take seriously, ie. Lyall Watson. If you honestly think that all one has to do is google this guy and they have the word you are wrong. The truth is out there and it reads like a book on Mr. Watson, he has been publicly denounced in many circles and as long as you use his arguments to help you too will be perpetually seen in the same light.
Good luck to you and Good Job to John!
Heterodyning is not confined to electrical signals, but can occur in any medium where signals of different frequencies are mixed, such as sound vibrations in the aircraft engine example given above. The human brain heterodynes stereo signals; by playing two tones with different frequencies (or the same audio with different phases), a beat frequency called binaural beat is produced inside the brain.
People can use this phenomenon to alter their brain wave frequency, as the brain is an oscillator and can be externally driven. As the human ear cannot detect the low frequencies required for this phenomenon, a pair of higher frequency tones must be used. The brain wave frequencies range from 1 to 30Hz or so, while the ear is sensitive to no signal lower than 20Hz. (For example, a 101Hz signal mixed with a 100Hz signal will produce a beat frequency of 1Hz, the difference of the two; but its tone will sound like 100.5Hz, the average of the two. One would hear a 100.5Hz tone with an amplitude (or volume) which oscillates once per second. While a 1Hz non-heterodyne signal could be produced, it would be impossible to hear, though possible to feel.) Optical stimulation is usually more successful, as much more of the human brain is devoted to processing visual information, and it can utilize amplitude modulation, rather than beat frequency. Stimulation in this manner can produce changes in consciousness, as different brain wave frequencies are associated with unique states of mind. Epileptics and people otherwise sensitive to flashing lights should use caution with any brain wave stimulation technique.
I forgot that some anon claims that a bunch of rotors spinning at different speeds create acoustic havoc.
It is my impression that turbine manufacturers go to some effort and expense to get rpm's stabilized for maximum generator efficiency. To achieve a constant speed, computer controlled pitch control is used. The same computer prevents low wind ( and low rpm ) operation and shuts the rotor off in high winds. As low rotor speed ( approx 16 rpm )is necessary to keep tip velocity reasonable, a step up gearbox is used to drive most generators.
John McManus
The Heterodyne Effect can also occur in the human brain. When the brain receives audio signals at slightly different frequencies (no less than 30Hz difference with both frequencies being below 1000-1500Hz), the brain will heterodyne the sound and create 'binaural beats'. These binaural beats and the brain's heterodyning ability can be harnessed to alter a person's mental state. The use of audio signals to alter a person's mental state is called 'Brainwave Synchronization'.
The following is a list of brain waves/'frequencies', and their effects on the human brain. Keep in mind that only the brainwave frequency 'Beta 2' wouldhave the potential to be in hearing range for the human ear. All of the other frequencies would still be able to affect a person's mental state even if the brain/ear does not register any sound.
* Beta: 12Hz - 38Hz. This is subcategorized into SMR, beta 1 and beta 2.
o SMR (12Hz - 15Hz) can result in relaxed focus, improved attention.
o Beta 1 (15Hz - 20Hz) can increase mental abilities, IQ, focus.
o Beta 2 (20Hz - 38Hz) can result in anxiousness and hightened sense of alertness.
* Alpha: 8Hz - 12Hz. This frequency can result in a state where the brain is awake, but not processing much. Often used for meditation. Also associated with a feeling of being "in the zone" and dreaming (REM sleep) and states of creative reverie.
* Theta: 3Hz - 8Hz. Associated with the hypnogogic state right after one wakes up or begins to fall asleep (drowsiness). Can be used for self-hypnosis.
o Theta 1 (3Hz - 5Hz) suppression can result in improved concentration and attention while reducing hyperactiveness (after the session).
o Theta 2 (5Hz - 8Hz) can result in a very relaxed sleep. This frequency range is often related to paranormal/spiritual experience.
o Schumann resonance (7.83hz) associated with the hypnogogic state, out of body experiences, and various hormonal releases. Also happens to be a set of spectrum peaks in the ELF portion of the Earth's electromagnetic field spectrum.
* Delta: 0.2 - 3Hz. This frequency range usually results in deep sleep.
The Schumann Resonance is of particular interest as a whole. Not only does it occur naturally in the Earth's electromagnetic field,its effects on the human brain are astounding.
Theta 2 is also of particular interest because of its effects on the human brain.
Johnny
Your wife called again this week.She said you've been getting into trouble on the internet again.She's finding it hard to cover for you.
Have you stopped taking your psychopathic liar medication again?
You know what the doctors said.
And don't forget the red ones. They're for deception .
Your father and i taught you better than that.
Someone named Rodney called and he's quite interested in you.I gave him your number.
Oh i almost forgot.Another one of those unmarked envelopes came in the mail.It kind of feels like money.Were you expecting another present from your friends?
Love
Mom
According to the above Anonymous, the children are still playing, glad to see that the persons nerves are still burning, haha. You know John, you keep up the good work, looks like the opposition ran out of lies and tales to talk about wind power. I find your info John interesting and true. Too bad people wouldn't learn from the info you post, they choose to look the other way and make jokes that mean nothing. Thumbs up buddy, have a good Easter weekend.
....with regards to a previous post which says
"It is my impression that turbine manufacturers go to some effort and expense to get rpm's stabilized for maximum generator efficiency. To achieve a constant speed, computer controlled pitch control is used. The same computer prevents low wind ( and low rpm ) operation and shuts the rotor off in high winds. As low rotor speed ( approx 16 rpm )is necessary to keep tip velocity reasonable, a step up gearbox is used to drive most generators."
Yes,todays technology is a far cry from windmills of the past.Experience gained from helicopter blade controls/ designs have found their way into these turbine systems.
However----the gear box adjusts/steps up the speed of the generator to keep it close but not exactly at the frequency of the mains.The rotational speed of the blade shaft is too slow /too variable for this.
Microprocessor controlled power circuitry then tweaks and syncs the generated hi-voltage/current to match the 50hz line phase and load conditions for distribution to the grid.
Due to mother nature the idealized concept of finding a number of isolated separate mechanical systems being in perfect syncronization all the time is rarely seen.
Gusts,turbulence,rain,snow,fog,ice,thermal densities,topography,ground cover,cloud cover,wind direction changes,friction,wear and tear,interference between them,inertia,flutter,vibration,resonances,etc. all create an unbalance over a large site of these.
Thank god for computers!
So the bloke was pretty close when he says"these don't spins all the same"
Cheers
Dr. Ross Adey, now of Loma Linda University Research Hospital, has investigated the effects of ELF radiation on the brain, and his work continues. Dr. Adey has researched the impact of ELF radiation on the inherent 'waves' of the brain. After studying the different rhythms of EEGs during various mental states, Dr. Adey was able to bombard the brain with specific frequencies to which the brain's EEG would involuntarily synchronize. Synchronizing the brain in various states would induce stress, anger, malaise, and fatigue. Dr. Adey was able to identify specific frequencies and their specific response. Some of Dr. Adey's current research, available in abstract from the NIH database is in calcium ion efflux [ADEY75].
Though someone viewing the research description might not be alarmed at the study of how ELF radiation can affect calcium ion efflux in brain cells, an understanding of this research's impact on the entire brain may cause alarm. Calcium ions are involved in transmitting neural and nerve impulses. Dr. Adey has shown that certain ELF frequencies can hinder or increase calcium ion efflux. Such ion efflux reduction delays or prevents neural impulses. The opposite case of efflux, "with repeated or continued exposure, the increased excitability leads to a state of exhaustion of the cells of the cerebral cortex." [ZARAT78] Dr. Adey was able to document a marked delay in rat's reaction times and memory. The more ominous prospect is that ion efflux in the hippocampus is also tied to the storage of human memory and recall[ADEY67]. When Senator Richard Schweicker questioned Dr. Gottlieb of MK-ULTRA about this study and its potential to destroy memory in animals, Dr. Gottlieb replied, "I can believe that, Senator." [CONGRESS77] Further study has been done by other researchers using ELF radiation, with responses varying from and desire to 'bite' the researcher [LAWRENCE73], to the ability to hear spoken words delivered via pulsed ELF microwave analog of the speaker's sound vibrations [BECKER85].
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