HomeMy WebLinkAboutApplication section 12 Electromagnetic Fields
From AWEA Siting Handbook, www.awea.org
5.8.5 Electromagnetic Fields
Electromagnetic Fields(EMF)emanate from any wire carrying electricity.
Members of the general public are routinely,exposed to these fields in
their everyday lives. Possible effects associated with the electric and
magnetic fields from transmission lines (or similar electrical sources)fall
into two categories
short-term effects that can'be perceived and may represent a
nuisance
possible tong-term health effects:
The issue of whether there are Jong-term"health effects associated with
exposure to fields from transmission lines and other sources has been
investigated for several decades. There is little evidence that electric
fields cause long-term health effects: Estimates of magnetic-field
exposures have been associated with certain health effects in studies of
residential and occupational populations: Research in this area is
continuing to determine.whether such associations might reflect a
causal relationship. National and international organizations; such as
IEEE, formerly known as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, have established public and occupational EMF exposure
guidelines on the basis of short-term stimulation effects,'rather than
long-term health effects. in so doing,:these organizations did not find
data sufficient to justify the setting of a standard to restrict long-term
exposures to.electric or magnetic fields. From what is known about
short-term effects, EMF levels generally decrease exponentially as one
moves away from the electrical wires.
5.8.5.1 Mitigation
The electromagnetic:fields produced by the generation and expo. 0
electricity from a wind farm do not pose a threat to public health.
Typically, electric cabling between wind turbines is buried in the ground,
effectively eliminating EMF exposure to the public. Grid connection is
normally made at no more than 132 kilovolts (k); similar to the
voltages used by utilities in existing residential distribution networks. In
addition, project developers generally design the entire electrical system
to adhere to applicable state guidelines and industry standards to
minimize EMF exposure from any new overhead transmission lines.