Falmouth: A Wind Turbine Health Fiasco

Massachusetts USA

Windfall A Wind Turbine Documentary -Educate Yourself

“Windfall” looks at the downside of wind energy. The wind turbine has become a symbol of hope -- a promise of a future free from fossil fuels and foreign oil. So who can object?

That’s what the residents of Meredith New York thought when turbine salesmen came knocking on their doors. Energy companies are becoming bullish on wind but residents of communities considering wind should be careful says “Windfall” Director Laura Israel. She explains the links between wind turbines and health, the impact of wind turbines on avian populations including bats and why some residents of communities with new wind turbines are moving away.

Music
“Fred Of Ballaroy” by Hazmat Modine

Windfall is a 2010 documentary film directed by Laura Israel about the reaction of residents in rural Meredith, New York (in Delaware County, New York) to a proposal to place numerous wind turbines in their community to harness wind power. It’s important to note that this film was done by an interested local citizen, not some organization with an agenda.

Laura did this film because she had a media degree from NYU, and this seemed like an compelling local activity that would have broader interest to citizens countrywide.

Laura is not an energy expert, and does not portray herself as one. She is a citizen who went to great lengths to have people on both sides of the story have their say. (The wind developer was asked to be interviewed for the film, but they declined.) The narrative relates to what happens when citizens get more educated about the very technical issue of industrial wind energy. In essence, this is a story about the democratic process.

The film begins in 2004, when energy companies approached several property owners in Meredith, offering cash payments to allow the long-term placement of wind turbines standing over 400 feet tall on their land.

The documentary portrays Meredith residents as deeply divided over the idea. Some believe the economic and energy benefits are worth investigating. Others are concerned about the towers being an eyesore, loss of property values, or posing a variety of hazards such as collapse, accumulation of ice which is then flung from the turbines in large chunks, or health problems attributed to low frequency noise.

Residents of Lowville, New York are also interviewed, expressing regret at installing wind turbines in their community.

After an often rancorous debate, the citizens vote out the current officials who were promoting wind energy, and were not amenable to enacting a protective wind ordinance. The newly elected officials in Meredith subsequently passed a citizen-friendly wind law, and the developer decided to leave the community.

The film is composed mostly of interviews with Meredith residents. Also included are excerpts of news broadcasts, films of city council meetings, and computer-animated segments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZgoERceSU

Windfall Trailer (2012). A Documentary directed by Laura Israel. Chilling, Fascinating and Insightful told NY Times and Huffington Post.Windfall Trailer (2012). When a group of townspeople discover the impacts that a 400-foot high windmill could bring to their community

More infos, trailer and clips here :http://www.windfallmovie.com