Resolution Adopted by the Board of Directors of Wisconsin Towns Association 

Whereas, developers are in the process of attaining permits to build industrial wind farms statewide, and

Whereas, citizens living next to industrial wind turbines, including families living near Shirley Wind Farm in Denmark, Wisconsin, have made claims of suffering health issues potentially caused by low-frequency noise and infrasound generated by wind turbines, and

Whereas, a report (Report #122412-1) released December 28, 2012, to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission by four acoustical consulting firms states that low-frequency noise and infrasound created by wind turbines in the Shirley Wind Farm exists in some homes surrounding the wind farm, and

Whereas, the report (Report #122412-1) released on December 28, 2012, recommended additional study on an urgent priority basis, specifically:

1. A comprehensive literature search far beyond the search performed under time constraints of the initial report,
2. A retest at Shirley to determine the decay rate of ultra-low-frequency wind turbine sound with distance with a more portable system for measuring simultaneously at the three homes and at other locations,
3. A “Threshold of Perception” test with participating and non-participating Shirley residents,

Whereas, ultra-low-frequency noise and infrasound has been shown in other studies to negatively affect people’s health, and

Whereas, the current PSC 128 rule establishes a maximum distance local ordinances may require for setback for industrial wind turbines from non-participating residence to be 1250 feet, which may not be adequate to protect residents from ultra-low-frequency sound and infrasound, and

Whereas, the current PSC 128 rule does not establish any standards for low-frequency sound levels and infrasound emitted from industrial wind turbines, and

Whereas, additional industrial wind turbines may be permitted around the state causing potential health and safety issues for other individuals,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Board of Directors of Wisconsin Towns Association that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and the State of Wisconsin enact a moratorium to stop the permitting and installation of industrial wind turbines until further studies are done, solutions are found, and the State’s wind siting rule (PSC 128) is modified to implement standards that address ultra-low-frequency sound and infrasound from wind turbines that will protect the health and safety of residents.

Adopted by the Wisconsin Towns Association Board of Directors this 21st day of January, 2013.

~~~
Richard J. Stadelman, Executive Director

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