In recent years, wind turbines have been hailed as a crucial component of the worldwide shift towards renewable energy. However, mounting evidence suggests that these towering structures may alter weather patterns, kill and damage wildlife, and negatively impact communities.
One of the most alarming consequences is the reduction of the jet stream, which is a high-altitude, fast-moving air current that plays a vital role in regulating global weather patterns. It helps to distribute heat and moisture around the world, influencing temperature, precipitation, and storm systems. Wind farms can increase drag, which slows midlatitude winds and shifts the jet stream toward the pole. Climate model simulations show that wind turbines can alter the flow of jet streams by extracting energy from them, which could significantly impact the planet’s climate system. Low-level jets can occur at altitudes of around 150 meters above sea level, which means they could interact with offshore wind turbines. For example, the Vineyard Wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts has turbines with a hub height of 140 meters. All of this could result in devastating weather and climate effects.
Beyond altering the jet stream, wind turbines also have an immediate impact on local weather. Turbines convert kinetic energy into electrical energy, but they also generate some heat due to inefficiencies. This can slightly warm the air around the wind farm. The operation of wind turbines also creates turbulence in the air, which can mix cooler air from higher altitudes with warmer air near the ground. The turbines will slow down the wind as they extract energy from it, which can lead to a decrease in wind speed downwind of the farm, along with an alteration in atmospheric pressure. This could affect local wind patterns, potentially reducing wind speeds in nearby areas (known as “wind shadows”) or altering the direction of wind flow. Additionally, the increased turbulence can enhance evaporation from the ground, leading to more moisture in the air, resulting in more clouds and potentially more precipitation.
Another concern is the potential impact on wildlife. Birds, in particular, are at risk due to the turbines’ blades, which can reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. The spinning blades kill birds that collide with them. This threat is compounded by the fact that many wind farms are located in migratory bird routes, increasing the likelihood of bird strikes.
Additionally, livestock farmers worldwide have provided anecdotal evidence that should raise serious concerns about wind turbines.
Wind turbines are killing birds. The sound is killing whales and other animals are getting deformities
A Stud farm in Texas, also proved this . His foals got turbine foot . Damage to the developing cartilage on all his foals as they grew. A new field full of turbines on his… pic.twitter.com/1WuSEqwqm6
— leilani dowding 🌸🚜 ☮️ (@LeilaniDowding) March 5, 2024
Furthermore, the use of sonar mapping to locate suitable sites for wind turbines has been blamed for the beaching of whales. Sonar systems emit high-frequency sound waves that can disrupt the navigational abilities of marine mammals, leading to serious damage, disorientation, and strandings. The loud noise produced by wind turbines themselves may also interfere with the communication and echolocation abilities of whales, further exacerbating the problem.
This is the pounding sound from offshore wind-farms, less than 9 miles off the NJ coast. The Atlantic lease spans 100,000 acres, where 2,421 of these are to be built under Harris’ faux ‘green energy’ plan!
This exorbitant turbine noise interrupts the migration pattern of whale… pic.twitter.com/vO29MOHiWg
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) August 12, 2024
It is not just the noise pollution and sonar that could be affecting marine life.
There has been essentially zero research on the effects of wind turbines on the marine environment.
There may be EMF and thermal effects from power cables on marine life, the turbine bases will barnacle up changing local habitat conditions, and wind turbines may change down…
— Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) August 23, 2023
There have not been enough (or really any) long-term safety studies. “Activist” politicians and “green” businessmen say that the risk of “climate change” is too urgent, so we have to act fast and fund these incredibly expensive projects, regardless of their impact on the local wildlife.
As dead whale carcasses wash ashore in record numbers, excavations for massive foundations of 100s of wind turbines have already begun. The muddying of surrounding waters will likely be much more damaging to sea life than the acoustic sonar mapping. https://t.co/y2JmCFqjMb pic.twitter.com/HSPUNh8cNw
— Patrick Moore (@EcoSenseNow) June 1, 2023
Many people might not realize just how massive and disruptive this “green” technology really is. The turbines being placed off the East Coast of the United States are three times the size of the Statue of Liberty.
The cause of this environmental betrayal are massive industrial wind energy projects off the East Coast of the U.S. The blades will reach three times higher than the Statue of Liberty. The towers will be directly inside critical ocean habitat for the North Atlantic right whale.
— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) January 29, 2023
Recently a massive turbine off the coast of Nantucket collapses and polluted the surrounding environment.
NET ZERO – climate zealots are very quiet over a wind turbine, the size of the Eiffel Tower collapsing in Nantucket
Also silent about the 300ft blade crashing to the ocean floor & sending shards of toxic fibre glass onto beaches & shorelines.
Shh… they’re saving the planet 🤡 pic.twitter.com/xHS00iL9ci
— Bernie (@Artemisfornow) July 20, 2024
In addition to the environmental impacts, wind turbines can also be a nuisance to local communities. The noise produced by the turbines, particularly during high wind conditions, can be disruptive to residents living nearby. This has led to complaints about sleep disturbances, headaches, and other health issues. It might be caused by the noise, but also could be related to the dirty electricity put out by the turbines. The symptoms of “turbine syndrome” and chronic exposure to electricity pollution are very similar.
AgDaily reported in March:
However, there have long been concerns about wind turbines, particularly about whether there is a negative impact on wildlife and livestock, not to mention people. In 2006, Dr. Nina Pierport coined the term “Wind turbine syndrome” as part of a study that surveyed 38 people living near wind turbines. The individuals studied noted symptoms such as sleep disorders, headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, visual disorders, heart failure, and problems with concentration and memory.
In 2021, a French court recognized “turbine syndrome” claims by a Belgian couple living near a wind farm. The plaintiffs were awarded more than €100,000 in compensation by the judge in Toulouse for the damages they claimed nearby turbines had on their health. The claim was initially dismissed by the court of Castres in 2020.
Moreover, the visual impact of wind turbines can be significant, with some communities arguing that they detract from the natural beauty of the landscape. Just like with solar arrays, people are concerned that their property values will decrease significantly if wind farms blot out their view.
The cost of repairing wind turbines can also be substantial. Turbines are complex machines that require regular maintenance and occasional repairs. In some cases, the cost of repairing a damaged turbine can be as high as 30% of its original construction cost. This can place a significant financial burden on wind farm operators, potentially leading to higher energy costs for consumers. These are just some of the many concerns that people have been voicing for years now.
I wanted to elaborate on my criticism of the Newsom/Kounalakis offshore wind scheme so that we can have an objective, not political, discussion of this issue. I care deeply about the environment, want clean air/water, but also strongly believe that we must consider (as Newsom… https://t.co/8L0a3M6wpy
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) January 28, 2024
While some people are hailing wind farms as a great solution to reduce our dependence on coal, oil, and natural gas, we must consider the unintended consequences of their widespread deployment. The reduction of the jet stream, the threat to wildlife, and the impact on local communities are all issues that lead us to conclude that these turbines are not the panacea our “green” politicians and businessmen purport them to be. Are they really trying to “go green” or are they deliberately scaring the population into going along with their “Green New Deal” agenda in order to line their pockets with more “green”?