HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-04-06, Page 5Wed lode , 'ril 6, 111 • y 4.44; • yance 5
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letters to the editor
MicroFIT is good for the grid
'lb the Editor:
Contrnry to claims from I Iydr)
One that the grid is becoming
constrained by MicroFIT sys-
tems, I would like to suggest that
Microl'l'l' systems are Just what
the grid needs. First, according{
to the Ontario Power Authority,
over 99 per cent of Mlcrol:l'1'
projects are solar PV systems, so
that is what I an) going to discuss
here. There are typically 2 types
of solar MicroFIT systems out
there, snutll systems of 2 to 5 kW
on residential honkie roofs and 10
kW systems on farms.
'Ihe average urban honkie uses
about 9,000 kilowatt hours (kWh)
of electricity per year. You would
need a solar system of about likW
on your roof to provide that much
power in a year, yet the average
homeowner can only fit 2 to 5 kW
on their roof. You soon start to
understand that all of the power
a system on your roof pnxluces is
consumed if not by your own
Why rush the wind?
home; it will he consumed by
you and your next-door
neighbours.
'There are no averages for farm
electricity usage, it varies tremen-
dously, depending on the type
and sire of fans. Most fauns have
lights, fans, milk coolers, pumps,
augers, etc., that run during the
day while the animals are active
and the chores are being done.
While a 10 kW solar system on a
tracking unit (seen on more and
more farms everyday) can pro-
duce enough power for 2 urban
hones, you'd be hard-pressed to
find a farm that can function out
the electricity used by 2 honk's.
If you think of the electrical
grid as a river system in reverse,
with large lakes (traditional large
generating system) feeding large
rivers (the large transmission
lines) that feed smaller rivers (the
distribution lines running past
your house) that deliver their
water (electricity) to you, the
'Ib the lidltor
Let rhe start by saying I strongly support the concept of renew-
able energy and certainly have serious concerns about global
warming.
That being said, are some Initiatives moving too fast and are we
shaking changes at the expense of the health and well being of
our community? As a family physician in Dunnville as well as
someone who will be personally affected by these wind turbines,
1 felt obligated to investigate the health concerns that have been
raised. 'This controversial topic is being researched by physicians
around the world including the UIS (I)r. Nina Pierpont and 1)r.
Michael Nissenbaum), the illi (Dr. Amanda !Wry), Australia (t)r.
Sarah Laurie) and Canada (1)r. Robert McMurtry).
I started my research by speaking directly with I)r. Nina Pier -
pont (MD, PhD), who is the physician responsible for the creation
of the term "Wind Turbine Syndrome." I ler research consisted of
analyzing individual experiences of people exposed to the Low
Frequency Noise created by wind turbines. I)r. Pierpont followed
families living within two kilometres of wind turbines and
describes symptoms, such its difficulties with concentration, bal-
ance, headaches, nausea, dizziness, irritability, fast heart rate,
feelings of panic and ringing in the ears. People most likely to he
affected include those prone to migraines, motion sensitivity,
inner ear damage as well as extremes of age. As a specialist in
behavioral pediatrics, she also expressed concerns with children's
attention, cognition and ability to learn when living in close prox-
imity to wind turbines.
Dr. Michael Nissenbaum (MD) is currently investigating the
effects of sleep deprivation in n group of individuals living within
., close proximity of wind turbines. Preliminary results of his soon -
to -he released study show that individuals within 3,500 feet of
wind turbines experience more sleep deprivation, stress, anger,
depression and reduced quality of life compared to individuals
who live more than 3 miles away. The affected individuals have
also been prescribed more medications.
Will we he creating more medical problems among our
residents?
Some would argue that many of the reported adverse effects of
wind turbines are subjective (Le., personal) experiences. 1 low -
ever, how could we possibly dismiss this as a legitimate problem?
A 2009 World stealth Organization peer review summary
consumer, you start to se'e how
local, micro generators are a ben-
efit. Instead of the nuclear and
coal plants having to deliver as
much power through the limited
capacity of the large and small
rivers (transmission and distri-
bution lines) to you, the con-
sumer, you end up producing
your own power.
What this does for the entire
electrical system is threefold.
Starting at the "top' of the grid: 1)
The generators can be throttled
hack, reducing our greenhouse
gas emissions, our smog emis-
sions and dependence on
nuclear and fossil fuels, which
are sot ne of the goals of the Green
Energy and Economy Act. 2)
With less electricity flowing
through the transmission and
distribution lines, there are 2
benefits, first, there is less line
loses and tnulsfonner losses and
two, transmission expansion
projects can be pushed off or
even cancelled title' to the overall
lower amounts of power flowing
through them. 3) With solar
power production very closely
following our demand curves on
a time basis, we can reduce our
dependence on peaking power
plants and importing electricity
at high rates from other jurisdic-
tions during peak demand times
(think of hot, sunny days in July
and August). Perhaps we will lw
the ones exporting our electricity
out at premium rates during this
time.
We should he encouraging as
much micro generation as it can.
When you produce your own
power through a Microl l'I'
project, I Iydro One still collects
its delivery charge for every kWh
you consume, whether itis trnns-
ported hundreds of kilometres
from the Bruce plant or produced
00 your own roof.
Rob Yost
New Hamburg
concluded that sleep deprivation could lead to several adverse
effects including poor work performance, memory disturbances,
poor concentration, mood disorders (depression, anxiety), sub-
stance abuse, impaired immune system function and motor vehi-
cle accidents to name a few.
1)r, Sarah Laurie (M1)) in Australia found several of the sante
health effects in an Australian community in proximity to wind
turbines. Der expanded investigation is now focused on the long-
term cardiovascular effects after noticing that several patients
had elevated blood pressure when turbines were operational its
compared to Woolen they %ve'1't' idle.
This is a relatively nt'w interest to health professionals, and
therefore more physicians are becoming involved on a daily basis.
A petition and position statement has just been developed by it
group of physicians in Quebec. This was lead by 1)r, Linda Bernier,
an ear, nose and throat specialist.
If a new drug were being researched for human safety, several
layers of extensive investigations would he required for approval
and any potential health effects would have to be well
understood,
We are only beginning to understand the health effects of these
large industrial wind turhines, and the rush to place them in our
communities at distances that many other countries have identi-
fied as dangerous removes the right of choice for many people in
I Ialdinand County.
Large foreign companies with no vested interest in our com-
munity are planning to put these wind turbines as close as 550
meters to existing dwellings. 'this is much closer than is allowed
in Europe, which means that information gathered there is not
directly relevant to what is happening here. With the elderly and
the young identified to be at increased risk of experiencing health
effects, do we not owe it to the seniors and the children of our
communities to ensure they are provided with a safe, healthy
environment that includes green energy. 'The only way to do this
is to await the results of large comprehensive medical studies that
clearly identify any potential health risks and clearly establish
safe setbacks for humans. My concern Is that current legislative
bodies do not seem willing to wait for these studies.
Dr. Natale Desrochers, MD
Dunnville
It's important to pay
respect to firefighters
From the Countryside
John Russell
If you were to ask a person about services they
receive for their tax dollars, it would be rare that they
mention, without hesitation, fire services.
It is not 1111(1 they don't know that the service is avail-
able hut, like many uncomfortable truths in life, it k a
service that is more or less ignored until needed. As
we witnessed in the tragedy of losing two volunteer
firefighters in North Perth recently, the community
does appreciate the great sacrifices given by these
Wren and women on a daily basis.
In my many years on and off local councils, it is a
given that at tit' time of appointments to committees
and hoards by council and usually done by the Mayor,
having a position on the lire Board has great appeal. 1
have never been given this opportunity as the Mayor
usually tells nk' that so many councillors want these
positions that maybe I would like this, that or the
other. This has always proven to ale the importance
local councils give to providing a good and affordable
fire service in small rural/urban areas and the appre-
ciation by those elected, of the practical social glue the
firefighters provide to the social fabric in so many
ways.
Historically in 51111(ll towns, fire departments
became, over the years, a parallel to the governing
body, council. This is an admirable acceptance by
councils of the ongoing and past community leader-
ship role performed by the tire chiefs and firefighters.
This also gives the firefighters an in when it came to
affecting policy changes and to lobby for new and
improved equipment to perform their tasks. During
the eighties and into the nineties, the ongoing provin
tial pressures to stake everyone conform to the
'l'oronto norms led to funding and liability pressures
on local lire hoards. In our area, studies by the lire
Marshall Office provided a road leap for the changes
heeded.
Of course, nothing is simple and ut the sante time
pressure to respond to changing models of govern-
ment through amalgamations created their own fric-
tion.'I11e Lire department and Council of 'Medford, not
the fire board, against the wishes of these reports,
decided to build the new village complex to include a
hull, a fire hall and an ambulance hay. I had just fin-
ished clutirdng a multi -municipal process on fire serv-
ice pressures called Sharing Scarce Resources and so
contacted Bob Hamilton, then chief of the Medford
Fire department and my Mayor, Fred Thomas of
Bosanquet for their views on this going against the
flow by 'Medford.
Bob gave ale all the reasons to agree with 'Medford,
which were practical, even though they didn't meet
the provincial servicing criteria for our larger urea.
Frets told me we would support them because it was
the right thing to do, They would build theirs. We
would build ours in Northville and eventually all
would he well. It was. Firefighters know their business.
Bless them. The bottom line was and is today. Take
your advice front them that knows.
And that's how 1 see it this week.
Iakeshoreadvance.com