Three Alberta families near Three Hills have taken their fight against a proposal to build wind turbines near their homes to a local appeal board.

FPLE Canadian Wind plans to construct 54 wind turbines in Knee Hill County northeast of Calgary for a project called the Ghost Pine wind farm.

Three families living in the area are concerned four of those turbines will be placed too close to their homes. They want the turbines built at least 1.5 kilometres away. Under the current proposal, those turbines would be built 500 meters away.

Diane Moran, who represents one of the families appealing the wind farm proposal, presented her case Wednesday afternoon at an appeal hearing in Three Hills.

The turbines might cause adverse health effects, especially sleep disorders, she said.

"For sure, it is health issues. There are many and they are varied. And there is a fairly good percentage of people who do start to suffer when the turbines are that close to their homes. With each passing week that we do research, and especially as we watch events unfold in Ontario, we are getting more and more nervous."

Josie Hernandez, a spokeswoman from FLPE Company, described most of the research on wind farms and its connection to adverse health effects as not credible.

"There is some evidence that was provided that is easily discredited, has been discredited in the past because it's not peer reviewed …," she said.

Hernandez said the company hasn't heard of any concerns regarding health from people living in areas around its 8,200 turbines across the continent.

The Knee Hill County appeal board will make a decision on the matter in 15 days.