Turbine study finds no harm, Opponents are indifferent

Very little evidence of impact found from Wind Turbines
But battle to the death will continue despite the facts

By David Kent

The initial response to this week's release, by the Massachusetts DEP, of a study called the Wind Turbine Health Impact Study:  Report of the Independent Expert Panel has been eminently predictable:

• The Cape Cod Times printed an eye catching headline across it front page:  "State:  Wind turbines not harmful".
  
• Turbine opponents blasted the report sight unseen.
  
• Wind power supporters cheered it, also sight unseen.

I suppose this is to be expected in that cage match to the death otherwise known as the wind turbine debate.

In this review I will attempt to be a bit more circumspect.  This study is not "game, set and match" for turbine supporters nor is it a stake in the heart of turbine opponents.  It is, however, a valuable contribution to the discussion.  While the study does not say that turbines have no impact upon humans, it does find very little evidence of impact in the scientific literature.