Posted by World Wind Energy Association
Best practices in wind farm planning and community involvement minimize negative impacts and maximize benefits from wind power
WWEC2012 will focus on community-based approaches
Bonn (WWEA), 1 February 2012 – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health published recently a scientific study on health impacts of wind turbines. The study was undertaken by a panel of independent experts "to identify any documented or potential health impacts of risks that may be associated with exposure to wind turbines, and, specifically, to facilitate discussion of wind turbines and public health based on scientific findings".
No scientific evidence could be found that the so called "wind turbine syndrome" exists. However, the authors suggests that negative attitude against wind turbines should be mitigated by best practices as successfully implemented in many parts of the world. Such best practices in wind farm planning should include proper siting, provision of information and community involvement, all of which can minimize negative impacts and maximize benefits from wind power.
Stefan Gsänger, WWEA Secretary General: "In most countries using wind power today, wind farms enjoy a very high degree of public support and it is often rather the local population that wants more wind power and pushes politicians to support it as well. Unfortunately there are some places where misleading and wrong information is spread, especially on health impacts of wind turbines.
According to the Massachusetts health study, people's positive attitude towards wind farms in their neighborhood mainly depends on their level of information and involvement. Previous scientific studies have demonstrated that community-based wind farms lead to significantly higher level of social acceptance. Hence WWEA has identified community involvement as a key for the success of wind power and will organize the next World Wind Energy Conference with the special theme "Community Power - Citizens' Power" in order to discuss appropriate business models."
Hon. Peter Rae AO, WWEA Special Ambassador External Relations: “Surveys worldwide show strong support for renewable energy development and, in particular, for wind power. In Australia a just published comprehensive multi state survey showed 80% public support for wind power. On the subject of health, the Australian Clean Energy Council has pointed to a statement just issued by the Climate and Health Alliance, a coalition representing groups such as the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian Psychological Society. This statement also underlined that renewable energy such as wind power provides a safe alternative to fossil fuels. A Parliamentary inquiry found no basis for a conclusion that adverse health impacts arise from wind turbine operation. The support for wind farms is enhanced where communities can rely upon the wind generators following the principles of the 'Guidelines for Sustainable Development of wind power' which WWEA published more than six years ago.“
WWEC2012 "Community Power - Citizens Power", Bonn, Germany, 3-5 July 2012
The World Wind Energy Association, in cooperation with the German Wind Energy Association and supported by a large number of international organizations, will organize its 11th World Wind Energy Conference in Bonn (Germany) under the theme "Community Power - Citizens' Power" from 3-5 July 2012. The conference will especially focus on how community-based wind farms can contribute to a faster wind energy deployment all over the world. Deadline for the submission of abstracts will be 15 February 2012.
For more information on WWEC2012 please visit: wwwwwec2012.net
The full report from Massachusetts can be found at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/energy/wind/impactstudy.htm
For general inquiries, please contact:
Stefan Gsänger
- Secretary General -
World Wind Energy Association
WWEA Head Office
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5
53113 Bonn
Germany
Tel. +49-228-369 40-80
Fax +49-228-369 40-84
WWEA – Uniting the World of Wind Energy since 2001
Comments
Posting what you did from "far from home" is slightly misleading
However --- I am writing to you from Massachusetts.
Here, especially in our hill towns, the people decide things. We still have town meetings where people get together to do business and vote on decisions. Sometimes that decision is to hold a special election to try to get more people voting on the issue than show up at town meeting.
What I am trying to say is that posting what you did from "far from home" is slightly misleading. At this very moment whether to allow wind turbines, of what size and under what conditions, etc. is a hot topic and there is more or less a moratroium in effect while THE PEOPLE decide.
Old debate, Plato vs Aristotle (perhaps an older debate but we can document this far back). One side favors rule by an elite of the wise, the other by the will of the people no matter how foolish every now and then.
PS -- I am referring to the hill towns, not the cities, because it is on the hills that turbines are to be placed if at all. The cities have more "modern" democracy rather than the more direct forms still used in the small "towns" (ie: townships with populations 500-2000 in the entire township of maybe 20+ sq miles).
Of course the powers that be in Boston might choose to over-rule hill town decisions. After all, once they evicted the population of several towns so they could submerge them in a giant lake to supply the big city with drinking water.