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The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) supports the responsible and sustainable development of wind energy in Canada and we continue to monitor ongoing scientific research in the area of wind turbines and human health. Health Canada’s proposed new study will contribute to the scientific literature and our knowledge base.

CanWEA has begun reviewing the draft methodology and study design and believes it must be sufficiently robust to deliver credible results that can be applied by decision makers when developing policy. In order to allow as many Canadians as possible a fair opportunity to review and comment on a study of this magnitude, CanWEA has formally requested an extension to the comment period to at least the end of August, 2012.

CanWEA notes that the balance of scientific evidence to date clearly demonstrates that wind turbines do not have an impact on human health and that this perspective has been confirmed by numerous independent reviews of the scientific literature. This is backed by a growing body of work, including reports by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the National Public Health Institute in Quebec, and most recently by an expert panel report to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Department of the Environment.

Wind energy is broadly understood to be one of the safest and most environmentally friendly forms of electricity generation. As a responsible industry, we continue to work with medical and scientific experts from Canada and around the world and our industry to ensure all credible information on this subject is reviewed and that Canadians have access to fact-based answers to their questions.

Please find below a link to a number of reviews of the scientific and medical literature currently available on wind turbines and human health: http://www.canwea.ca/wind-energy/talkingaboutwind_e.php.