from HLN May 5, 2025; Belga News Agency
Unlike the Alberta Government, which has yet to implement setbacks to protect its rural citizens, a number of countries are taking action. The most recent case being in Flanders, Belgium.
According to Belga News Agency, Flemish environment minister Jo Brouns is introducing distance rules for large wind turbines higher than 200 metres, reported Het Laatste Nieuws. Flanders already had rules around noise and cast shadow, but not for distance.
Flemish environment minister Jo Brouns refused a permit for a wind turbine for the first time because the distance from habitation was too small. One of the four planned 266.5-metre wind turbines that Engie and Katoen Natie want to build in the Ghent canal zone was denied a permit. The wind turbine would be set up 280 metres from habitation, which is too close, minister Brouns ruled. He is seizing on the Ghent case to introduce distance rules for wind turbines.
Flanders is too small to simply place such mastodons everywhere.
Jo Broun, Flemish Environment Minister
“For wind turbines higher than 200 metres, the distance to the first residence must be at least three times the tip height from now on,” explained Brouns. “For a 250-metre wind turbine, the distance to the residential area must therefore be at least 750 metres from now on. If this is not the case, I will not grant the project a permit.” He will launch the rule in a new circular in the coming weeks.
Flanders already had rules on noise and cast shadow, but not yet on distance. Abroad, these already exist. “And rightly so, because the quality of life of citizens must come first,” declared the minister.
Last year, Slovakia went even further with smaller turbines. Industrial Wind Plants with 150-metre high towers must now be located at least 3 kilometres from inhabited areas.1
Wind Concerns has repeatedly appealed to the Alberta Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Nathan Neudorf, to implement science-based setbacks from human habitations.2 This after Premier Danielle Smith declared:
You cannot build wind turbines the size of the Calgary tower in front of a UNESCO World Heritage site; or on Nose Hill; or in your neighbor’s backyard. We have a duty to protect the natural beauty and communities of our province.
Premier Danielle Smith, Press Conference, February 28, 2024; YouTube
While numerous studies indicate the Flemish setback is still too small, it’s at least a first right step (we believe, given all the evidence of harm to both the environment and economies, that these turbines should no longer be built in the first place). So far, rural Albertans are still waiting to see how exactly the Premier intends to prevent off-shore sized turbines from being built in “your neighbour’s backyard.” She need only look to Europe to see governments taking action.
Wind Concerns is a collaboration of citizens of the Lakeland Alberta region against proposed wind turbine projects.