In early December 2010 I wrote a piece on how groups were forming on both coasts to fight the deployment of Smart Meters in their regions titled Smart Meter Resistance Movements. As you can probably tell, as a staunch anti-FUD spreader, I'm not a big fan of these hysteria spouting folks. Today, the verdict is in, and I offer you an antidote to one of their principle contentions.
The non profit California Council on Science and Technology, an organization "designed to offer expert advice to the state government and to recommend solutions to science and technology-related policy issues" has just released a report weighing in on the "Smart Meters give you brain cancer" debate.
And they did so rather decisively. As their just released study revealed:
Wireless smart meters, when installed and properly maintained, result in much smaller levels of radio frequency (RF) exposure than many existing common household electronic devices, particularly cell phones and microwave ovens.I saw this first on SmartGridNews which covered it HERE. Or you can go directly to the CCS&T report by clicking HERE.
You can still argue privacy. One can (and should) quite reasonably voice concerns over security. And maybe the economic advantages haven't proven themselves yet, at least from the individual home owner's perspective. But as regards the purported threat from RF emissions, I think we can all sleep well now. That claim's been put to bed.
Photo credit: Sam Howzit on Flickr.com
Photo credit: Sam Howzit on Flickr.com
