What the Hell is Wind Turbine Syndrome?

Every energy source comes with its own set of problems that give rise to a passionate opposition. In the United States today, we see it with shale gas and the anti-fracking movement. In Britain, Australia and other countries where wind farms have proliferated across rural landscapes, we see fierce anti-wind campaigns gaining strength. Like gas fracking, there are numerous vexing issues (of a different nature) associated with wind turbines. But campaigners against fracking and wind power have something in common: They both exploit and distort science to advance their agendas. Of course, someone like James Delingpole, being the buffoonish demagogue he is, would be the last to recognize this. So it's amusing that what he criticizes enviros for is exactly what he's guilty of himself. The energy writer Robert Bryce is not a court jester like Delingpole, but he is guilty of selective citation in this recent one-sided column that suggests there are serious health effects from wind turbine noise. Still, the assortment of maladies that have been attributed to wind farms is pretty fascinating. I explore the phenomena of "wind turbine syndrome" over at Discover. Is it real or just a lot of hot air? Have a read and let me know what you think at Discover or here.