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ARTICLE · 02 AUGUST 2012

Dutch Wind Turbine Noise Study: Strong Link Between Money And Annoyance

Siskinds LLP
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Health Canada’s wind turbine health study is doomed to irrelevance, because is largely based on asking people whether they are annoyed about wind turbines.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
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Health Canada's wind turbine health study is doomed to irrelevance, because  is largely based on asking people whether they are annoyed about wind turbines. With this methodology, Health Canada could "prove"  that people are annoyed and distressed about any number of things: extreme summer heat and drought; traffic congestion; electricity rates; taxes; gun crime, etc. And I expect they could prove annoyance and sleep disturbance among people near a wide range of noise sources, including highways, airports, gun clubs, racetracks, Toronto's entertainment district, motorcycles, outdoor bars and the Indy.

Among other things, Health Canada's plan lacks one critical feature of  a good study: it will not isolate the alleged noise impact from the subjects' preconceived opinions about turbines. Compare the much better study of 725 Dutch residents done by the University of Groningen, where wind turbines are widespread: WINDFARM perception.

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