American resident warns of dangers of wind farms

PUGWASH Opponents of a proposed wind farm on the Gulf Shore got more fuel for the fire Friday night.

Mark Harris, a pastor from Bridgewater, Maine, spoke Friday night at the Ground Search and Rescue in Pugwash about how a wind farm in Mars Hill, Maine has terrorized locals.

He bought property in Mars Hill roughly 1200 feet away from the turbines, but hasnt done anything with it because of how unbearable the sound and strobing from them is.

"Many of the mills we have, on certain days when the wind comes from a certain direction and the humidity is such and such, it will be all but silent at 1200 feet away where my home site would be. But come back the next day and itll pound until you cant tolerate being there and theres no predicting when that will happen," he said.

He said the wind farm has wreaked havoc on the town, with many people now dealing with health complications allegedly caused by the turbines sounds and shadows.

"Everyday (residents) deal with the sound. The intolerable levels arent everyday, sometimes one or two days a week, sometimes itll skip a week but the next week itll be there for four or five days in a row, and theres no knowing until it happens," he said. "Its pretty frustrating."

Harris thinks wind turbines being 500 metres away from property, which is currently the law in Cumberland County, isnt enough. He said turbines would be safe if placed at least two kilometres away from residences.

"Im in favour of wind turbines, but they should be appropriately sited," he said. "This needs to be done in the most responsible way so we keep it in good standing with the public. I think we need it.

"The placing of them seems to be irresponsible far too often."

jdickie@amherstdaily.com