Wind farms are weakening health day-by-day – Ontario Farmer
Ontario Farmer
Tue Jan 19 2010
Column: Letters to the Editor

Dear editor:

I live amongst the wind farms in Clear Creek. I am getting really tired of living with the vibrations and electromagnetic waves emanating from these turbines. There is no relief, ever. A human being has only so much strength to endure these conditions.
There have been extremely intense episodes when weather conditions are conducive to maximum vibrations, and all I could do was sit on my couch, squeezing my head in an attempt to stop my brain from vibrating; I couldn't see because I was blurry eyed, experiencing vertigo.

It can be really, really bad at times. One never knows how long these episodes will last; one never know when they will happen. A slight shift in the wind can direct it towards me instead of my neighbor.

We feel our capacity for mental functioning is diminishing because of the constant exposure, along with these intense episodes; we are all exhausted. I expect to be called back to work shortly, a physically and mentally challenging job, and I don't know how I'll manage. The only way I manage now is to take several naps throughout the day. These 18 turbines in Clear Creek are connected directly to the grid. When they are idle, or when they are drawing power from the grid to make them turn, they are suffusing the atmosphere with electricity. It's like there is no check valve to stop the electricity coming back from the grid. If only one or two turbines are idle, the others are pushing this electricity towards us.

I was downstairs in my basement recently one morning and suddenly got really dizzy, or fuzzy-headed might be a better term. I went upstairs to see what the turbines were up to. They weren't even turning. These turbines are idle on a fairly regular basis, at least once a week. I have contacted the MOE who say it is not within their jurisdiction. I have contacted the wind company who say any electrical concerns are the responsibility of Hydro One. I have talked to Hydro One who say they are not responsible for the turbines, only for the power lines up to the point of demarcation. We are weakening as we wait for real health studies. This isn't right.

My property is for sale. I now have to disclose my health issues associated with the turbines to any potential buyer of my property. People view my house, my 40 x 60 ft barn, my 2.4 acres with an expansive view of Lake Erie , they love it; until they hear that disclosure. I am currently asking $220,000 for this property, a drop from $270,000 when I initiated listing in the fall of 2005. My real estate agent expected offers of $160,000 when I instructed him to make this disclosure.

Yes Bart, I am disturbed; a fairly mild term for expressing what we have to endure just to make you rich.

Kay Armstrong