Post on 25-Jun-2015
description
Wind Turbine Impacts on Neighbours
Community Information MeetingApril 3, 2013
Wind Turbine Impacts on Neighbours
• Topics
– Shadow Flicker
– Ice Throw
– Fire/High Angle Rescue
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Shadow Flicker
• Intermittent shadows cast by a moving object Daily Impact
20 – 30 minutes depending on distance Sunrise or sunset depending on location
• Extremely annoying Interrupts sleep or evenings outdoors Difficult to block as caused by a very tall object Autistic children are extremely sensitive
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
European RegulationGermany 30 hours/year or 8hours/year with cloud coverEngland 30 hours/yearN. Ireland 30 hours/yearBelgium 30 hours/yearIreland 30 hours/year + 30 minutes/day or 10 blade diameter
setbackScotland 10 blade diameter setbackSpain Regulation not necessaryThe Netherlands 5 hours 40 minutes/year Denmark 10 hours/year with appropriate cloud coverCanada/USA No regulation
• Simpler definition recommended most of these definitions need detailed assessments to determine compliance
Note: 30 Hours per Year = 60 to 90 days per year
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Area Affected by Shadow Flicker
.Turbine8 Blade Diameters
135° East135° West
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Blue arcs show a radius of 8 blade diameters (0.9 km) and extend 125 degrees east and west of north.
Amherst Island Wind ProjectNoise and Potential Shadow Flicker
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Municipal By-law Proposed
• North Perth developing a by-law to regulate shadow flicker Prohibit all moving shadows beyond the property
owned by originating landowner No allowances for any shadow flicker Using ongoing municipality’s power to regulate
‘public nuisances’ Enforcement triggered by complaint
Draft coming to Council on April 8
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Fire Safety• Fire do happen in wind turbines• Project located in a high density rural area and
insufficient separation presents risk to:– Homes– Farm buildings/equipment– Crops/forests
• Invenergy has provided no detailed emergency plans. Call 911 service or James Murphy in Toronto
• North Perth requested a realistic plan to address fires in turbines
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Burnt Turbine North Of Goderich
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Invenergy California Ridge Turbine
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
High Angle Rescue• Turbines are work places where accidents and health
incidents will occur and ‘High angle rescue’ services are needed to extract people from these locations
• Not available in North Perth or Perth East; and delivery from urban centres will not meet required response times
• Not realistic to upgrade local emergency services to deliver services.
• North Perth requested a realistic plan to address high angle rescue plan for the turbines
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Ice Throw From Turbine Blades• Dr. John Harrison, Queens University
– “Consultant models make no sense”• Ice does not come away in cube shapes• The drag force does not act on the front face• The amount of ice is under-estimated
• Modeled Realistic Conditions– Ice in thin sheets– Sheet aligns with speed relative to the air– Drag force acts over the plane surfaces– Drag force opposes the relative motion– There is a wind-speed gradient
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Projected Maximum Ice Throw
Results Parallel Safety Zones Recommended by Equipment Manufacturers
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Ice Throw Concerns• Ice throw will happen and will affect snowmobilers
and hunters using properties around turbines• Automated shutdown triggered after ice thrown from
one blade • Provincial standard insufficient – 10 metres plus
blade length = 60 meters from property lines• Equipment manufacturer specify safety zones of
about 450 metres – extend beyond leased property• Safety plan requested to address issue throw• Issue can be raised by neighbouring property owners
April 3, 2013 Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
Community Information MeetingApril 3, 2013
Elma-Mornington Concerned Citizens
April 3, 2013
We Need Your Help
• Sign Letters Before You Leave– Protect Farmland– Livestock Producers– Health Issues– Atwood Resident
• Write your own letter• Volunteer• Take a sign
Committee Contacts
North Perth• Ralph Coneybeare – 519-292-0905• Cecil Siebenga – 519-356-2844
Perth East• Gary Elg – 519-635-8043• Ross Stone - 519-580-3181