Davidson Introduces Bill to Study Transmission Line Impacts on Health and Farms

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) introduced the Community Health and Agricultural Research on Grid Exposure (CHARGE) Act. The legislation would require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how transmission lines operating at 750 kilovolts or greater affect human health, livestock, and crop yields.

"Residents in Darke and Miami Counties have raised concerns with me about proposed plans to build transmission lines near their homes and farms," said Davidson. "The federal assessment Congress commissioned is more than 25 years old, and residents deserve answers based on current research. I'm introducing the CHARGE Act to require NIH to study the health and agricultural effects of transmission lines operating at 750 kilovolts or greater so state officials have current data before making decisions on proposed projects."

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

Background:
A proposed transmission project includes 765-kilovolt lines with routes under consideration in Darke and Miami Counties in Ohio's Eighth District. Residents have raised concerns about the potential effects of these lines on their health, livestock, and farming operations.

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 directed a comprehensive federal research program on the potential health effects of power-line electric and magnetic fields, producing a health assessment in 1999, more than 25 years ago. The report found weak evidence of a possible leukemia risk but did not establish a causal relationship, and it recommended continued research. Grid technology and energy demand have changed substantially since then, warranting an updated federal assessment.

The CHARGE Act would require NIH to conduct updated research on the effects of transmission lines operating at 750 kilovolts or greater on human health, livestock, and crop yields, and report its findings to Congress. This research would provide state officials with current health and agricultural data to inform their consideration of proposed projects and help address residents' concerns.

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