wiredInUSA April 2017

Safety concerns make developer dig deep

BCHydro has altered its plans for proposed new substations in downtown Vancouver after a consultation process. It will now take measures to further reduce electromagnetic field levels after hearing concerns from residents, particularly parents, regarding possible EMF levels. “Within park boundaries and the Vancouver School Board property we will bury transmission cables deeper underground than we normally would, and will implement magnetic field shielding by encasing the cables in steel,” explained the president and CEO of BC Hydro, Jessica McDonald, in a letter to the school and park board.

“This will reduce the very low EMF levels even further (a minimum 75 percent reduction) and should alleviate the public perception of health risks from EMF.” Independent studies will verify EMF levels once the substations are in use. The studies will be ongoing and the levels reported publicly. BC Hydro received 219 feedback forms, of which 53 percent indicated underground substations were a good idea, most citing an efficient use of valuable land, but for those against the idea, 30 percent, the two biggest obstacles were proximity to a school and safety concerns regarding EMF.

wiredInUSA - April 2017

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