"Mitigation" is used In the authors' context to mean reducing environmental impact. The authors believe themselves ethically qualified to write on a topic which also involves the life sciences and legal professions. There is no validity to the popularized concept of "electromagnetic fields radiated from power lines". The recent research from Sweden has shown that the technical need for mitigation may be more in regard to electric than magnetic fields. The authors take the position that regardless of any possible health effects related to electric and/or magnetic fields, if replacement lines can be installed with resultant fields equal to or less than previously established values, then this will be acceptable. Factors invoked in burying many kilometers of high voltage lines preclude a total conversion to underground transmission, regardless of the public being willing to pay the cost. The use of new mitigation technology will be demonstrated on 69 kV to 500 kV transmission lines to illustrate these concepts. If an existing power line has established a precedent, then a new power line limited to the magnetic and electric field precedents may not require condemnation to gain approval by regulatory agencies. Several engineering solutions for replacement or line upgrades are possible using existing rights-of-way for most situations. Six phase technology provides significant benefits and holds promise for improving transmission and distribution line operating efficiency while reducing EMF.
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