Wind Turbine Incident/Complaint Reports in Ontario, Canada: A Review—Why Are They Important? - Open Access Library Journal

OALibJ > Vol.6 No.2, February 2019

Open Access Library Journal

Volume 6, Issue 2 (February 2019)

ISSN Print: 2333-9705 ISSN Online: 2333-9721

Google-based Impact Factor: 1.18 Citations

Wind Turbine Incident/Complaint Reports in Ontario, Canada: A Review—Why Are They Important? ()

HTML XML

Download as PDF (Size: 334KB) PP. 1-12

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1105200 527 Downloads 1,915 Views Citations

Author(s)

Carmen M. Krogh^1,2*, E. Jane Wilson³, Mary E. Harrington^1,2

Affiliation(s)

¹Magentica Research Group, Member of the Board of Directors, Killaloe, Canada.
²Magentica Research Group, Member of the Board of Directors, Killaloe, Canada.
³Wind Concerns Ontario, Wellington, Canada.

ABSTRACT

Background: The introduction of industrial wind turbines into quiet rural environments in Ontario, Canada has resulted in complaints about environmental noise and adverse health effects. Ontario has a process whereby residents can report noise to government. Official government records of Incident Reports/Complaints submitted by residents living near operating wind turbine installations were obtained through a Freedom of Information request. This article presents an evaluation of this process while commenting on the significance of Incident Reports/Complaints. Methods: Government records of Incident Reports/Complaints were analysed. Peer reviewed publications, conference presentations, judicial proceedings, government resources, and other sources were evaluated and considered in context with the topic under discussion. Objectives: The purpose of this article is to present the role and significance of Incident Reports/Complaints and discuss the value of these when assessing outcomes related to the introduction of wind turbines into a quiet rural environment. Results: Government records document 4574 Incident Reports/Complaints received by Ontario’s hotline (2006- 2016). There was no ministry response to over 50% of more than 3000 submitted formal complaints (2006-2014). Another 30% were noted as “deferred” response. Only 1% of the reports received a priority response. Provincial Officers noted in summary reports that people were reporting health effects such as: headache, sleep deprivation, annoyance, and ringing or pressure sensation in the head and ears. Health effects were reported many times including those occurring among children. Discussion: In the case of wind power installations, Incident Reports/Complaints are an important source of information for evaluating outcomes of introducing a new noise source into a quiet rural environment and are a form of public health surveillance. These reports can highlight risks to a healthy community living environment, act as an early warning system, and aid in evaluation of government policy initiatives. They may also be used before legal tribunals in public or private actions.

KEYWORDS

Industrial Wind Turbines, Windmills, Incident Reports and Complaints, Public Health Surveillance

Share and Cite:

Krogh, C. , Jane Wilson, E. and Harrington, M. (2019) Wind Turbine Incident/Complaint Reports in Ontario, Canada: A Review—Why Are They Important?. Open Access Library Journal, 6, 1-12. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1105200.

Cited by

[1]	Wind turbines: Vacated/abandoned homes–Exploring research participants' descriptions of adverse health effects and medical diagnoses provided by their …
	Environmental …, 2023

[2]	Research on Identification and Early Warning Method of Power Customer Complaint Risk Based on SACNN Model
	2023 3rd International …, 2023

[3]	Access to Justice: Recommended Reforms to the Ontario Justice System Using the Green Energy Act as an Example
	2021

[4]	Ontario's Green Energy Policy vs. Social Justice
	2021

[5]	Wind turbines and adverse health effects: Applying Bradford Hill's criteria for causation
	Environmental …, 2021

[6]	Re: Please acknowledge receipt of this email
	2021

[7]	Preliminary Results: Exploring Why Some Families Living in Proximity to Wind Turbine Facilities Contemplate Vacating Their Homes—A Community-Based …
	2020

[8]	Noise Exposure and Job Stress–a Structural Equation Model in Textile Industries
	2020

[9]	Health Impacts of Industrial Wind Turbines Williamsville, State of New York Submission by: Carmen Krogh Sept. 13, 2019
	2019

Journals Menu

Follow SCIRP

	customer@scirp.org
	+86 18163351462(WhatsApp)
	1655362766

	Paper Publishing WeChat

Journals Menu

Home

About SCIRP

Service

Policies