Elected officials, activists push back against high voltage converter stations

Advocates pointed out that exposure to strong electromagnetic fields has been associated with childhood cancer and leukemia.

News 12 Staff

Aug 12, 2021, 12:30 AM

Updated 1,149 days ago

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Elected officials and environmental activists are pushing against the installation of high voltage converter stations in the Bronx. 
The project was proposed by the New York Power Authority and Forward Power. It would have built a high voltage converter station right on top of Bronx Terminal Market at East 151st Street. 
Rep. Ritchie Torres joined environmental advocates on Wednesday to voice concerns about the project. 
Rep. Torres, who has been fighting for environmental reform, says that although he agrees with the need for clean renewable energy, he says building the station in the originally proposed area would have detrimental effects on the people of the South Bronx. 
Advocates pointed out that exposure to strong electromagnetic fields has been associated with childhood cancer and leukemia. 
After experiencing pushback against the proposal, Forward Power has agreed to not build the station at the Bronx Terminal Market. 
The project has not yet announced where the new site will be. News 12 is told that it won’t be in another residential neighborhood, but an industrial area instead.