Wind turbines have been part of the county landscape since 2017.

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Board of Health is going on record, as it first did back in 2019, offering recommendations to municipalities when it comes to zoning for future wind turbines.

The board did not, however, recommend any type of a ban or give any specific setback recommendation.

During the May Board of Health meeting, the board approved a letter that it will be sending to municipalities in the county.

The letter not only addresses wind turbines, but also Battery Energy Storage Systems.

In the letter, the Board of Health notes its limit on what it can do.

“While our organization does not have regulatory authority over zoning or land use decisions, we are committed to supporting municipalities by sharing public health perspectives grounded in available scientific evidence and community experience. In this role, we aim to assist local leaders as they weigh the potential benefits and risks associated with these projects,” it states.

At the last few Board of Health meetings, county residents have been in attendance, noting how their health has been affected by the current wind turbines.

The letter acknowledges their concerns, while also acknowledging the importance of green energy.

“We recognize that renewable energy development and energy storage technologies are important components of broader energy strategies. At the same time, members of our communities have expressed concerns related to potential health and quality-of-life impacts. These concerns include, but are not limited to, noise, shadow flicker, and visual impacts especially associated with increased numbers and proximity of wind turbines to residential properties as well as fire safety, air quality, and emergency response considerations related to battery energy storage systems,” the letter states.

The acknowledgement of residents’ concerns continued.

“We have also heard directly from residents in communities where similar projects have been proposed or developed, who have expressed concerns about potential impacts to their health, well-being, and quality of life. As a public health organization, we take these concerns seriously, even in cases where scientific evidence is still emerging or inconclusive. These community experiences, combined with evolving research, highlight the importance of careful, transparent, and locally informed decision-making.”

In 2019, the Board of Health penned a letter recommending local municipalities pass a proper wind law that restricts Industrial Wind Turbines to a minimum of 1.5 miles from any property line and 35 or fewer decibels in sound frequency.

The new letter acknowledges the previous letter, but does not give further guidance.

“We encourage you now, as we did in our letter to municipalities in 2019, to maximize setbacks and minimize decibel levels to ensure you are doing all you can to protect the health of our county’s constituents,” the letter states.

The Board of Health notes the importance of a “thorough and transparent review process that incorporates environmental health, and community considerations.”

The review process may include the following:

– Reviewing the local, state, and international building codes that govern these specific structures;

– Making pertinent updates to local municipal codes following the review;

– Reviewing the most current and credible scientific evidence;

– Considering cumulative and long-term impacts on surrounding communities;

– Ensuring meaningful community engagement and opportunities for public input;

– Evaluating emergency preparedness and response capacity, particularly for battery storage facilities;

– Consulting with independent experts where appropriate.

The Board of Health is also going to be sending a bibliography list of literature and references. At the May meeting, some board members were concerned the bibliography list was too long. They asked that Public Health Director Lacy Wilson take the lead in trimming the list down. Once that is completed, the letter and the list will be sent to municipalities.

The Board of Health letter was signed by Dr. Elizabeth Kidder, county health board president.