Shelly White, a social worker at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, was one of several neighbors who expressed concerns over the health risks from living next to a substation and being exposed to electric and magnetic fields. White noted that there are 69 children in the neighborhood ages 11 and under.

"I'm not willing to take a risk with my health," said Deborah Feder, a self-described "downwinder" who has suffered thyroid cancer and has a son with Hodgkin's disease.

Eskelsen said the power company takes its lead from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Studies conducted in the 1980s showed a link between magnetic field strength and the risk of childhood leukemia. Since then, "NIEHS scientists have concluded that the overall pattern of results suggests a weak association between increasing exposure to EMFs and an increased risk of childhood leukemia," according to the institute's Web site, www.niehs.nih.gov.

In addition, "the few studies that have been conducted on adult exposures show no evidence of a link between residential EMF exposure and adult cancers, including leukemia, brain cancer and breast cancer," according to the NIEHS.

The power company had been scheduled to seek approval for the project from the Planning Commission at the Jan. 14 meeting. Company officials agreed to postpone that request until next month, allowing time for residents' questions and concerns to be addressed.

E-mail: jpage@desnews.com