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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.
Safety concerns make
developer dig deep
wiredInUSA - April 2017
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