Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) today cleared wind farms of accusations of health impacts on nearby residents, according to Greens NSW MP and Energy spokesperson John Kaye. ('No evidence of wind farm health impact', SMH)
Dr Kaye said: "The nationís leading health agency has joined the World Health Organisation in saying there is no evidence to support concerns related to noise from wind farms and illness."
Although many residents remain opposed to wind farms in their area, there are now no health barriers to pushing ahead with more wind farms in NSW.
There has been a concerted push by some groups to stir up opposition to wind farms. Much of this relies on highly questionable assertions of health impacts.
While some local residents are put out that they are not receiving a fair share of the profits from wind generation on neighbouring properties, a lot of misinformation has corrupted the public debate.
Despite the new evidence, the enemies of wind farms will no doubt continue to stir up opposition using non-science.
However the NSW government should work with communities to minimise the impacts and maximise the opportunities for profit sharing with local communities and neighbours.
Delaying the progress of the stateís renewable energy sector because of myths and falsehoods is unacceptable.
Addressing the stateís appalling levels of greenhouse gas emissions from coal fired power stations requires urgent action to install more clean generation.
NSW has some excellent sites for new wind generators that could make a real difference to the 60 million tonnes of CO2 emitted from the stateís coal-fired power stations each year.
The MHMRC, WHO and a major US study have now dismissed the issue of so-called infrasound. Low frequency sound below the human range of audibility is not a cause of ill health.
"Along with infrasound, concerns about supposed electromagnetic radiation from wind turbines have now been dismissed," Dr Kaye said