I'm thinking about buying property by some power lines, how crazy am I?

[Turkw]

It's a nice piece of land, decent price, but the deed restrictions have some drawbacks. It's a wooded lot, and I would not have to cut down many of the native trees to put a house were I want it. Perfect for xeriscaping. If only not for thoses powerlines, I snap it up in a hearbeat.

[Roon]

1. they're just powerlines

perhaps the beauty of the land cancels them out? :-)

[DBoon]

2. I wouldn't worry about health risks

None shown for powerlines. Any electric or magnetic fields decrease by an inverse square law, so at any realistic distance you are not subject to any significant effect.

You are actually exposed to much higher strengths by using common applicances up close - there was just a study indicating some issues regarding electric razors and blow dryers. I think there was a study a few years ago that indicated some risks to professional seamstresses - working so close to electric sewing machines.

The fields from power lines are very very small compared to these.

[MAlibdem]

9. E=KEq/r^2

(Electric field)=(energy constant)(charge of particle)/radius^2

It's a little different in circuits (I can't remember that formula at the moment), but it is still distance^-2.

Ah physics, the laws that ACTUALLY govern the universe

[sweetheart]

26. never

I would never go near powerlines. Its not worth the risk that
the health issues are underestimated. Just as much there are
cancer clusters around such things that are difficult to dismiss.

That said, so much depends on the wattage of the circuits. THe
bigger they are, the worse the electric fields. If you take a
fleurescent bulb to the site, and it lights beneath the cables(in the
the electric field) when
grounded, well, then its probably unhealthy for the electrochemistry
of your body.

[TomNickell]

29. There have never been any actual data showing injury.....

Our bodies generate electric currents every time our hearts beat or our muscles contract. These currents are usually bigger than what you would get from the power lines. EKGs, remember. We conduct electricity, so electric fields can't penetrate very deep.

Nobody has come up with a plausible mechanism for electric fields to cause cancer, or whatever.

Doesn't mean it is impossible, of course.

[Kali]

3. where isn't there power lines?

Hard to find powerline-free spaces ANYWHERE anymore isn't it? Then you go to someplace like rural Mexico and see how excited everybody if to have electricity and they just love those lines!

[Ksec]

4. If there is no buzzing sound

it may be OK but I walk under a power line nearly everyday and the buzzing sound would drive me batty. Maybe all powerlines dont make this racket .

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. Just as you are questioning the idea so will...............

others when it comes time for you to sell. Forget about whether or not they are actually bad for you, it's whether or not the buyers think that.
The fact is that the house may not appreciate on value as much as others in the general vicinity.

[cally]

6. Exactly what I would worry about

I think the value of the house would be less than other property. If you end up selling in a tight market, you may not be able to for months. I wouldn't buy a house like that for this reason.

[Robin Hood]

23. That's what I would look at.

It's all about the re sell and appreciation.

[reprehensor]

7. I only have rumor.

No proof. But I have heard that living near power-lines does pose a health risk, specifically cancer.

Again, no proof, you will have to google. I have heard the rumor repeated by people who haved worked in the energy industry for a generation.

Sorry if I made you paranoid, but you asked, and it would influence my decision in a negative way.

Think of it this way, the human nervous system is electrical, is all that energy buzzing around in the air good for you?

[gander2112]

28. Rumor...

Studies have shown that linesmen, you know, people who spend 40 hours a week (or more) literally inches from the lines have no significantly higher rates of cancer than the general population.

Geoff

[radwriter0555]

31. no offense, but studies by WHOM?

The people who control the studies, control the outcome.

[kiahzero]

33. As mentioned above:

Inverse Square law... double the distance, and the field strength is quartered. So, going just from "inches away" to the ground below results in a significant reduction in the field strength.

Moving from "inches away" to the distance from the lines to the house would probably reduce the field to insignificance.

[denverbill]

39. They don't spend 40 hours per week next to live power lines though.

If they are working on a live line, the first thing they do is turn it off. If they are working on a dead line, the last thing they do is turn it on. It's no fun working on a live power line.

[Turkw]

8. Thanks, I've been looking at information on the net, most seem to

indicate that there is no real increase for disease, but I always question studies now. Corporate funded studies have made me very leery of taking them at face value. Even the sites that say there is a problem can't qualify it. There is no way of totally disproving the belief.

The biggest problem will be trying to resell. Power lines do decrease property value. But maybe that will keep taxes down. A silver lining for everything.

[DemoTex]

10. Hope you aren't a ham radio operator or other HF user (BPL!)

BPL (broadband over power lines), sometimes called PLC (power-line communications), poses a potential technical threat to Amateur Radio and other HF radio operation. BPL health studies (and other health threats from power lines), like cell-phone RF health studies, are largely sponsored by the industry. VERB SAP!

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/#Video

Consider, too, the increased risk of lightning strikes near (but not on) the power line. You get what you pay for. Land near airports is generally cheaper, too.

[Turkw]

13. My mother used to live right next to a small airport, we loved it, so

maybe a liking for property near negative land features is in my genes. I'm still looking at information though.

[arewethereyet]

11. where there are power lines there are also dirt bikers etc

its a real problem around here. Noise, erosion a that.

Just something to consider now as opposed to 7am one Sunday morning when you are awakened by it.

[DustMolecule]

12. IMHO, I'd keep looking around

there's lots of really nice property out there. It has been my experience MORE THAN ONCE, that I had my sights on a property, but there was something prohibitive about it (them). I continued to 'look around' and EVERY time found something much much better. Even years later, I could look back and say that it worked out better - and sometimes for reasons that I couldn't even have forseen. Good luck w/it all :-)

edit: deleted a word for grammar's sake

[KT2000]

14. Another consideration

Power companies have the right to maintain their property under power lines. Many times this means yearly or more applications of pesticides. The kind they would use is stronger than that sold to residential consumers and applicators are not always well trained. Inquire about this -
is the property under the lines maintained with pesticides
If so, how often are applications made
what are the names of the products used (do a google search and find the MSDS for all the products)
are the applicators trained (by the way - training is usually a big joke)

If you get resistance - move on. The property owner, and by that I mean the pwer company, has all the power in this instance - whether or not you, your family and pets and livestock suffer ill effects is of no consequence - except to a lawyer who may take up a case for irreversible damage (toxic tort). But these cases generally do not get very far anyway.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Are you referring to the towers or just the telephone poles...

that carry the power lines?

Or are you referring to those sub-stations?

[Turkw]

18. Not the telephone poles, but not the really giant metal towers either,

kind of in between very large cement poles.

Looked at the land again, and the poles are actually on private land, so the dirt bikes are not a problem.

[LiberalFighter]

36. I wouldn't buy!!!

Also any increase in property value would most likely only be as a result of inflation. So there would be no gain when you sold.

[welshTerrier2]

16. I used to live near power lines

there have been all sorts of reports about whether electromagnetic fields are bad for you ... while the general consensus seems to be that power lines are safe, i'm not all that eager to put too much stock in the general consensus ... and even if there are no health risks, it could make your house just a little more difficult to sell or to sell at the price you ask ... if you're a little hesitant, others may be as well ...

the other thing that concerned me about power lines was trying to figure our just how they kept trees from growing under them ... i lived near power lines for 13 years and i never heard any chainsaws going ... a long time ago, i read an article about agent orange being used as a defoliant ... again, no idea if this was true but it's not the kind of thing you would mention in your "for sale" ad ...

and the last thing was, as someone above mentioned, that power lines can be an attractive nuisance for certain types of recreational motor traffic ... suv's, dirt bikes and, depending on where you live, even snowmobiles can really be annoying ...

none of this is intended to tell you not to build near power lines ... but i would only consider it as a last resort ... i've since built a house at the edge of a forest on which no building or development is permitted ... i can tell you i'm much happier at this location than I was at my previous house ...

[Art_from_Ark]

22. There was a controversy in Minnesota a few years ago

People in the vicinity of a 115-kilovolt line were complaining of excessive health problems.

"Voigt and the others concede there's conflicting scientific evidence regarding health risks from electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, from power lines. But they say a disproportionate number of people living near the line have experienced health problems such as miscarriages and cancer. "

http://www.powerlinefacts.com/Metro%20residents%20seek%20power%20line%20relocation%20(7-01-1999).htm

[NNN0LHI]

27. I can answer why there are no trees under them

I used to work with a crew who's job it was to make sure there were no trees under them. We used a defoliant similar to or the same as Agent Orange with a new name on it to kill any trees and brush growing underneath them. Monsanto still made the stuff though. This was in the mid 70's. Thats why you didn't hear any chainsaws.

Don

[LiberalFighter]

35. Any side effects from that defoliant?

Like Vietnam Vets suffered from Agent Orange?

[kayell]

17. It really messes with your ability to resell

I was shown a couple of properties when I was looking that had large towers next to them. Both had been on the market for a LONG time.

[maggrwaggr]

19. here's what you do: get a couple of flourescent tubes

and stand under the lines. Watch the tubes glow all by themselves. Then decide if you really want to live there.

[not systems]

20. I heard a segment on this subject on...

"Explorations with Michio Kaku".

It said that a new Canadian study showed evidence that
cell damage can happen with a source and explanation.

I think it was the show broadcast this last week.

Here is his website:
http://www.mkaku.org/explorations/

His show is archived here:
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/archives.php?id=33

I think it was the 02-24-2004 during a news roundup
part of the show but I don't know for sure when.

Edit:

It is about 13 miniutes in and some study found brain tissue
in rats exposed to electromagnetic field being damaged.

He suggests not using electric blankets.

[Fescue4u]

21. 3 Rules in real Estate

Location
Location
Location

Property near power lines fails all three tests :)

Seriously, if you plan to live there forever and never sell, its a good deal, since you get the property and don't need to worry about resell.

But if you ever play to see it, stay away now.

[Gothic Sponge]

24. Read this

http://infoventures.com/private/federal/q&a/qa-hlth3.html

[anarchy1999]

25. VERY!

n/t

Do your homework, then walk away and say thank you.

[radwriter0555]

30. Then take out a HUGE policy to cover for brain cancer, cause those electro

magnetic fields and the related health risks, are all too real.

For as LOUDLY as the power cos poo poo the notion, the reality is that cancer clusters occur near power lines.

[MadHound]

32. Whether or not there are any health effects from power lines

There are several other reasons why not to buy land with a power line right of way. First off, you've essensially given a twenty five foot swath of your land to the power company, with the possiblity(in some states) of the company having the ability to take more. Due to different state laws, it is a possiblity that the power company can state that they need more land, for new lines, substations etc. And since you will be a new owner, any grandfather clauses would not be in effect. Here in Mo, they come along and virtually wiped out 1 acre plots, with house, due to putting new lines in. I would check with a well versed lawyer first if I were you.

Then there is the matter of what the power company does with the land. First it is clear cut, and then continously sprayed with a defoliant similar to Agent Orange. Your radio and television reception with be diminished, and you now have a bit of an increase nearby or dead on lightning strikes. You also might experience more medium to small aircraft flyovers. An old trick of pilots if they have no other landmarks is to follow the big lines to where they're going, since the towers and accomanying swath through the woods is easily visible. If there is a substantial river nearby, then you probably won't have to worry, the pilots will follow the river.

The health matter is a toss up. The conflicting information on the matter makes me wary of it, It is one of those matters that while the rising rate of carcinomas has generally followed the rise of electricity use, there have been many other factors(pollution, chemicals, etc) that have also tracked along. Electricity could very well be part of the problem, but certainly not all of it.

But all in all, I would stay away from this land. Corporate powers that be could turn around and bite you, in addition to the enviromental concerns.

[Robb]

34. You guys are all focusing on the NEGATIVES!!

I have two words for ya, Turkw... "inductive generator". ;) Free power!

Actually, it's one of those rural myths that actually is true... one of my best buddies is on the power board out here in the sticks. The trick is to hide it, because it turns out the power company can complain and get you to dismantle it, and charge you with theft of service. But if it's a big enough line, it's nearly impossible to detect without actually seeing the thing. :D

[Timefortruth]

37. I wouldn't rent under a power line.

20+ years ago I had a job which dealt with utilities. An issue with the high tension lines was that cattle would give birth to deformed offspring or stop producing milk. Leukemia rates were also high. The companies didn't really dispute the link and only argued that the lines were essential.

If it's a vacation property (yes, I know your a Democrat) go for it, but it is very risky for daily habitation.

[librechik]

38. I'm buying some land off the grid--is that even crazier?

It has lots of solar exposure and a spring! Who needs the grid?

[Mr.Green93]

40. I would be more worried by the deed restrictions