Shirley Wind

Soon after the wind farm went into operation, local residents began complaining of health problems they said were caused by low frequency noise stemming from the wind turbines.^[7] Ultimately, over 75 local residents filed complaints with the Brown County Board of Health.^[7]

In January 2012, the Brown County Board of Health requested emergency aid from the state to assist families suffering from the effects of the wind farm.^[12]

In January 2013, a study of the low frequency noise was completed, which showed that three of the houses studied had evidence of low frequency noise, but in only one house was that noise coming from the outside.^[13] However, the study could not conclude that the health effects experienced by local residents were caused by the wind farm.^[13]

In October 2014, the Brown County Board of Health declared the Shirley Wind farm a "human health hazard", based on the complaints of local residents, becoming the first board of health in the country to make such a declaration.^[14]

In December 2015, after reviewing studies and evidence, Brown County Health Director Chua Xiong declared that there was insufficient evidence linking the wind turbines to the illnesses suffered by local residents.^[9]

This decision was called into question after an Open Records request revealed that Xiong experienced migraines when near the wind turbines. She said: "The times I have been out there by the Wind Turbines, l get such migraine headaches, I think I should take some preventative Tylenol before I head out there."^[15]

Migraines are a frequently observed symptom reported to the Brown County Health Department by people living near Shirley Wind's turbines when they are operating.

Xiong resigned her position the day before the emails were revealed to a local citizen's group through an Open Records request.^[16]

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