Are Cape Vincent public officials knowingly and willingly allowing the health of its town citizens to be affected by wind turbine development?

That question was put to me yesterday by a reader who stopped by my home to drop off a copy of Wind Turbine Syndrome, by Nina Pierpont, MD, PhD. (JLL and others have donated copies which are available at the Cape Vincent Public Library).

Dr. Nina's extensive report documents a consistent and often debilitating complex of symptoms experienced by adults and children while living near large industrial wind turbines (1.5-3 megawatts). It examines patterns of individual susceptibility and proposes pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Symptoms include sleep disturbance, headache, tinnitus, ear pressure, dizziness, vertigo, nausa, visual blurring, tachycardia, irritability, problems with concentration and memory, and panic episodes associated with sensations of internal pulsation or quivering that arise while awake or asleep.

This study suggests that communities that allow 1000 to 1500 ft. setbacks, like those in New York State, may have families who need to move after turbines go into operation.

One conclusion made by Dr. Nina's report is that 1.24 miles remains the baseline shortest setback from residences and schools.

The pro-wind, however, would disagree with her findings. But ask yourself this. Or, if you don't trust your own judgement, ask a fifth grader.

Who should you trust with the near future health and safety of the entire Town of Cape Vincent?

A. A Spanish wind developer receiving millions in taxpayer subsidies and will most likely sell the project soon after it is completed.

B. Cape Vincent town and school board officials who are also wind contract holders or who have close relatives who are wind contract holders?

C. A medical doctor who has done extensive research based on experiences with multitudes of existing wind projects.

As my visiter was headed out the door, yesterday, his last comments were:

"The facts are in, the knowledge is out there. If the town of Cape Vincent, the developers, their sound defenders, and the landowners have that knowledge, but ignore the warnings, does that make them liable for the inevitable medical problems that will hit the Town of Cape Vincent like the plague in just a few short years?"

My visitor brings forth some good questions to think about as the wind contract holding town of Cape Vincent officials struggle with a new wind law that they want to be favorable to BFW, eh?