Legislators work to restrict power lines   Ann DeMatteo , North Bureau Chief 02/07/2004 Area legislators are working together to safeguard neighborhoods that have been targeted for the expansion of a high-voltage electric transmission line. A bill is being co-sponsored by Reps. Mary Fritz and Mary M. Mushinsky, both D-Wallingford; Rep. Al Adinolfi, R-Cheshire, and Sen. Leonard Fasano, R-North Haven, that would require the Connecticut Siting Council to include health and fair market value issues when deciding on the application to expand and build 345-kilovolt lines. The legislators believe that Cheshire and Wallingford neighborhoods would be adversely affected by the overhead power lines that have been proposed by Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating. The legislators and constituents at a hearing Thursday night in Wallingford told the Siting Council they believe property values will decrease if more overhead lines are added. "When you think about property values, you have to understand that not only do their property values go down, but when the grand lists go down and taxes go up, people lose and pay twice," Fritz said. Fasano on Friday said it doesn’t make sense to him that property values wouldn’t be considered. "Why would it not be a factor if an 80- to 130-foot tower is in your back yard?" he said. Two other legislators, Sen. Joseph Crisco, D-Woodbridge, and Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, have introduced legislation to restrict installation of the high-voltage lines near schools, playgrounds, pre-schools, licensed day-care centers or religious institutions. Fritz also has offered legislation that would prevent the duplication of 345 kilovolt lines, noting there are already some in east Wallingford, and another bill that would require the Siting Council to require UI and CL&P to provide alternative routes for every community from Middletown to Milford. The proposed route to upgrade power from Middletown to Norwalk calls for 45 miles of overhead wires from Middletown to Milford and 24 miles under local streets from Milford to Norwalk. "My intention is to try and protect the neighborhoods," Fritz said. "There’s no reason they can’t go under the street." UI spokeswoman Marcia Wellman said the Siting Council "very much considers" electromagnetic field issues in the application process. The utilities have to design and engineer lines that meet "best management practices" to mitigate electromagnetic fields. Some critics point to EMFs as the cause of childhood cancers, but Wellman said that in 30 years of scientific research, no correlation has been found between EMFs and human health issues. But Adinolfi said he has compiled information from the state Department of Public Health that shows that EMF exposure is toxic and may affect incidences of childhood leukemia and other problems. Thursday night was the first time that people concerned about the issue heard from the Siting Council that it would take the EMF issue into consideration when reviewing the application. "I think they’ve been getting a lot of pressure from the public," Fasano said.   Ann DeMatteo can be reached at adematteo@nhregister.com, or 269-1496. ©New Haven Register 2004