Wind Turbine Troubles By Dr. Jimmy Tragle, Part IV

Industry claims no adverse effect on property values. I think this is a hard one to justify as one is required to disclose any problems with a property when putting it upon the market. There are a two reported instances where a wind plant purchased property at fair market value then sold them considerably below market value. One to a farmer that had either power lines or turbines sited on his property and was making money in rent from the facility owner. The other was sold cheaply to an employee of the wind plant.

There is another reported instance where a family was forced to abandon their home in Nova Scotia this year. The property had been in the family for generations. They were all suffering the adverse effects of sleep deprivation and the ripple effects that one might imagine would follow. Three members of the family have also been reported to be suffering from some visual disturbances that may represent permanent damage subsequent to long term exposure to low frequency vibrations. There is a condition that industrial workers experience after many years of working in noisy environments known as vibroacoustic disease (VAD). A few doctors in different countries are considering VAD to be an issue for residents near wind plants.

Given all that information ask yourself and answer honestly, if someone was offering to sell you property and they disclosed all this would you walk away? If a lot of people want to buy a property it increases in value. If no one wants to buy it the value plummets. Simple market behavior.

Apart from the health impacts there is also the matter of spoiled view sheds. Night skies tainted by flashing lights aren't what someone after rural property is going to see as a drawing point. Opinions of the turbines as seen by day depend upon one's personal taste I suppose. I've seen them up close and personal. Once was enough although I suppose I'll go back a few more times in an attempt to record them again under more appropriate conditions. It was a bit nasty when I went the first time and I'd like to experience them under more calm conditions at ground level.

Industry advocates will claim the turbines boost tourism. There are a few locations where tourism directly linked to wind plant visitation have failed miserably. If wind plants become commonplace they'll certainly cease to be an attraction.

For Jack Mountain there are numerous tourism draws in terms of hunting, fishing, camping, rafting, and hiking. There is a good probability many of these will suffer due to environmental damage resulting from the blasting for foundations and the clearing of forested land for turbines, access roads, and power lines.

It would appear that the net effect on tourism stands a really good chance to be in the red.