Comment ID: 210827 EBR 013…

Comment ID: 210827

EBR 013-1043 Otter Creek Wind Farm I realize that only comments on health and the environment will be considered but will be touching on other aspects of this project anyways as the government needs to keep hearing about all the issues involved in the placing of wind turbine projects near homes. Water Wells In looking at the wind turbine project maps, Otter Creek Wind Farm will be in close proximity to the North Kent 1 Wind Farm area in which residents are currently experiencing serious water well problems since piling driving began during construction of the wind farm this summer. This problem could also happen in the Otter Creek Wind Project area. In North Kent, baseline testing occurred prior to construction. In one case, baseline tests were at an average of 2.84 turbidity. When the MOECC tested after pile-driving began, that resident’s water well turbidity was 86.8 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) or 30 times what it should have been. Ontario Drinking Water Standards turbidity level objective is 5.0 NTU. Not only did the turbidity cause filthy sediments to appear in the water but filters became clogged so the water couldn’t even get through. Heavy metals such as arsenic have also contaminated the drinking water after disturbing the shale bedrock. Well water problems also occurred in the East St. Clair Wind Project – another project in the area. Otter Creek Wind Farm’s Construction Plan Report includes in their list of typical construction equipment that will be used: pile driver or pile boring machinery. So pile driving or boring will take place there so associated risks of water quality and quantity losses could most certainly occur in Otter Creek Wind project too. The Otter Creek Wind Farm Hydrogeological Assessment and Effects Assessment P.9 notes that there are several water wells in the project area: 150 domestic water wells, 89 irrigation/livestock, 3 public and 7 commercial/industrial water wells so several wells could be affected. On p.14 and 15 of the “Hydrogeological Assessment and Effects Assessment” are the “Assessment of Impacts and Monitoring Requirements” and “Table 3: Mitigation Measures, Net Effects and Monitoring Plan: Geology and Groundwater” which do not address mitigation if the quantity and quality of groundwater users (private water wells) are affected by pile driving. The table only addresses problems from dewatering and spills during construction. Therefore the Monitoring Plan does not include effects or mitigation from pile driving or boring so the Plan is not complete. Health/Noise Some people wherever wind turbines are erected, experience new or exacerbated health problems including: tinnitus, vertigo, headaches, nausea, sleep disturbance, internal vibration/pulsations in their body, hum resonating in the house, inner ear problems, ear pressure, balance problems, dizziness, cardiovascular issues and problems with concentration and memory. This has happened all over the world and continues to happen in Ontario. Thousands of noise and health complaints were reported to the MOECC after wind turbines were erected in our province and there are many more who do not report it because they feel there’s no use in reporting it because the MOECC won’t doing anything about it and because the government wants wind energy no matter what. I personally know people in our area who are experiencing health problems or increases in their wind turbine- related health problems since wind turbines started up here but they do not report it as we do not. My husband started with tinnitus and vertigo after the wind turbines in our area went operational and two years later was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. He is on medication for it but still has bouts of vertigo at times. His ear often roars and consequently he is irritable and can’t sleep. In our case, it would be a weekly/daily call to the MOECC and who wants to bother with that? Many days and nights the wind turbines are very loud in front of and behind our house. We can see 60 wind turbines from our acre lot and that’s from only three directions as there is a 100 acre woods on one side of the lot, otherwise we would see more that direction. There’s no doubt that some people living in the Otter Creek Wind Project area will have wind turbine-related health problems and noise issues if the turbines become operational. The Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal decision in Chatham-Kent in July of 2011 found that “the debate should not be simplified to one about whether wind turbines can cause harm to humans. The evidence presented to the Tribunal demonstrates that they can, if facilities are placed too close to residents. The debate has now evolved to one of degree. The question that should be asked is: What protections, such as permissible noise levels or setback distances, are appropriate to protect human health?” The tribunal also recommended that further research should be done. In Feb, 2013, Dr. Hazel Lynn, Grey County Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Ian Arra MD and researcher reviewed 18 of the most credible studies and reported their findings in the “Literature Review 2013: Association Between Wind Turbine Noise and Human Distress.” Results showed that all studies rejected the Null Hypothesis i.e. evidence of association was found between wind turbines and human distress in all the studies. No published peer review study showed no association. 3 studies showed dose response. The studies strongly warrant further research. The Ontario Research Chair for Renewable Energy Technologies and Health (ORECTH) preliminary study results in Oct.,2013 showed that both vertigo and tinnitus were worse among participants living closer to wind turbines and the further away from wind turbines, sleep improves. “Study findings suggest that future research should focus on the effects of wind turbine noise on sleep disturbance and symptoms of inner ear problems.” Residents from the following areas of Ontario took part: Bruce (Enbridge project); Chatham-Kent (Raleigh); Dufferin (Melancthon); Elgin (Erie Shores ); Essex (Comber): Frontenac ( Wolfe Island ); Huron (Kingsbridge) & Norfolk (Frogmore/Cultus/Clear Creek). Low frequency sound and infrasound from wind turbines which are the level of noise that most affects people’s health, are not required to be measured, only audible noise. Also, measurements of noise are only taken outside homes, not inside. Infrasound and audible noise should be required to be measured inside and outside of homes. May 2017: Complaint records released to Wind Concerns Ontario in response to an FOI request indicate that the MOECC does not respond to most complaints about wind turbine noise. MOECC records indicate little or no resolution of more than 3,100 formal Pollution Reports made by Ontario citizens between 2006 and 2014. The Ministry staff had no protocols or guidelines to deal with complaints and high-level directives blocked staff from responding. Staff were told to rely on computer noise models provided by power developers instead of actual noise measurements. Power development was and still is more important to this government than protecting its residents. No Say The way the Green Energy Act was written, it took away the democratic rights of the people and municipalities as to whether we wanted wind turbines in our areas or not, how many and where they could be placed. The Planning Act does not apply with wind turbines. If people wanted to build a house, chicken barn, etc by our home, we would be given plenty of time to ask questions, share our concerns, etc. or be accepting of the new development. However, in our area, contracts with confidentiality clauses were being signed by the landowners stating they could not tell anyone. By the time the developer’s first Open House occurred, the contracts were signed one and two years previous. No wonder the rural public is so upset about wind turbines: no say and the fact that the pending development was hidden. ERTs only deal with health and environmental issues as these EBR comments do. At the ERTs we pay for the MOECC’s lawyers and our own lawyers to fight the developments in our backyards. High Electricity Costs The government’s rush to green energy, the Green Energy Act, numerous directives from unqualified Energy Ministers, a lack of prior analyses and a large power surplus have made electricity rates soar out of affordability. Ontario has a large amount of surplus power. A large amount of our wind power is wasted as 70% of it is out of phase with demand as noted by the Council for Clean and Reliable Energy. Wind energy is very expensive since the government gave wind developers guaranteed high prices for 20 years even though the earlier renewable energy bidding process was very successful. All generators are paid even when they are curtailed. Our excess power is often exported for a loss and we sometimes even pay them to take it when the hourly price dips to negative. The hourly market price of power is the lowest it’s been in years yet our rates are the highest as we have to pay for the Global Adjustment (GA) – the difference between the hourly price and the guaranteed and contracted prices of the generators. As the hourly price decreases, the GA has to go up more to pay for the difference to the generators. We also pay the cost of the Global Adjustment for all the power we export. Wind power needs a backup when it’s not blowing so natural gas plants are maintained and at the ready when wind ceases. We also pay for that. Hydro-electric power, our cheapest power, is the first power to be curtailed! The power system has been so messed up by this government with the onslaught of renewable energy and is costing ratepayers, businesses and jobs. This Otter Creek Wind project and all others that have not been given their REA or started construction should be cancelled since more power would increase our electricity prices, loss of businesses and loss of jobs even more. PS I have much difficulty calling a wind project a farm. It is not a farm in any sense of the word. The MOECC must hold high the health, protection and rights of residents and the preservation of the environment but REAs seem to be handed out with little concern. A wind project planned near the Collingwood Airport and Clearview Aerodrome should never have been approved and now the approval has been revoked after three municipalities, Canadian Owners and Pilots Association and residents spent over half a million dollars fighting it at the ERT. However the developer can still appeal the decision. When will all this stop? In conclusion, Otter Creek Wind Project is in the vicinity of other wind projects in which water wells have been seriously affected and pile driving equipment is typical equipment listed in Otter Creek Construction Plan Report so the Otter Creek project is in danger of the same water problems. Also, if this project goes forward, people living in the area, will have noise and health issues after operation begins. This project would add to the power surplus and cost of electricity to all Ontario ratepayers causing more energy poverty for more people. Energy poverty can cause more health problems. This government’s rush to green energy, poor decisions, ignoring expert advice and lack of analyses have contributed to high electricity costs which they have moved forward for future generations to pay too. The people of Ontario have no say and once the wind turbines are up and running, the MOECC will continue to not respond and not resolve complaints. The people of Ontario deserve justice, safety, good health and much more. The Otter Creek Wind project and all other wind projects not constructed at this time should not go forward. Thank you.