Huron Expositor, 2015-09-30, Page 88 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, September 30, 2015
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HEAT members and
residents are fed
up with loud noises
during the night
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
A large group of worried residents
and members of the Huron East Against
Turbines presented t council with infor-
mation regarding the noise coming
from 15 new wind turbines in McKillop
Township, which they say are keeping
some residents up at random hours of
the night.
HEAT members Jeanne Melady
and Gerry Ryan expressed to the
Huron East council their concerns
with a presentation pointing out
what they believe are inconsisten-
cies relating to turbines, particularly
the St. Columban Wind Project.
Approximately 25 residents affected
by the project joined the HEAT
group in the council meeting Sep-
tember 22. The two HEAT members
told the council that there are sev-
eral people in the area who are upset
with the noise connected to the
large fans, which generate electric-
ity. In addition, Ryan, whom also
lives in McKillop said some people
have stressed to him they cannot
sleep because three to four times a
week loud interruptions in the mid-
dle of the night are keeping them
awake. Melady and Ryan stated
there are six main areas of concerns
by the locals who live near the
turbines:
• Noise during the day
• Noise causing wakefulness at
night
• Shadow flickering from the blades
• Vibration in the home
• Low frequency noise
• Loss of rural environment
"I guess we're using (Huron East)
as a conduit between us and the
wind company because we simply
can't get the answers for citizens
that are being affected," said Ryan.
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"People are being woken up and
having headaches."
The frustration continues for Ryan
he said. He claims that he's contacted
the wind turbine company three times
with no response. He would like
someone to investigate the levels of
sound because the days with heavy
noise are not always constant he
explained.
"It's not like you're being affected
every day, as wind changes direction
and the environment changes, humid
days seem to be different and worse
than a dry day. When the sun is shining,
I think it keeps the noise closer to the
ground," said Ryan. "I don't know, I'm
not a scientist."
Ryan confirmed the presentation was
to provide council with awareness of
what is specifically happening in other
areas.
If possible, Ryan said he would like to
gather all the people who are troubled
by the wind turbine company and con-
duct a sound study, which the farmer
believes, are mandated for people like
himself.
"It would be ideal if they would shut
them off when people are normally a
sleep, which would be from 10 p.m. to 6
a.m.," Ryan said.
Both members of HEAT said they
would like to be directed by council of
where to go or what organization to
call, so they can explain the problems
the community is having with the
turbines.
"We don't want to keep calling num-
bers and nothing happens, it's time
consuming and you can spend a whole
morning making complaints," said
Melady.
She said council will carry out a
report to the company including some
of the concerns of the residents and it
will be tabled at the next council
meeting.