Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., has requested $250,000 to study wind turbines and their impact on the health of those living in proximity, according to the governor's two-year budget for the state.
According to the 2015-2017 budget summary, the request directs the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) to conduct a study on wind energy and ‘related health issues.’ The PSC will then report back the findings to Walker and the legislature.
‘Unfortunately, this is not the first time Walker has targeted the wind industry,’ explains Chris Kunkle, regional policy manager for Wind on the Wires.
‘Given Wisconsin's Wind Siting Council released a study on this issue less than four months ago – which confirmed the findings of numerous other studies that there is no direct link between wind turbines and adverse health impacts – we are concerned about the timing of this budget provision.’
As a result of these ‘misplaced’ priorities, Kunkle adds, ‘Wisconsin continues to fall behind its neighbors in wind development and is missing a great opportunity to attract capital investment and create jobs in the Badger State.’
Several entities and organizations have studied wind turbines' effect on human health. Most recently, Health Canada concluded there is no evidence of a causal relationship between exposure to wind turbine noise and self-reported medical illnesses and health conditions.
