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along with this admission: “CCST also has strong connections to industry through its membership.” Reflecting those “strong con- nections,” the CCST study is a favorite of the utilities, including APS, but it is not primary research. Its conclusions are based on cher- ry-picked information. It is science by con- sensus, science for a preconceived outcome.
For example, contributors to the report whose findings did not support the pre- conceived outcome — that “smart” meters posed no public health problems — had their submissions removed but they were still listed as contributors! How intellectually dis- honest is that?!
APS also submitted one of the worst reports ever. The study by the impressive sounding Maine Center for Disease Control is a stand- out in terms of shear hogwash. Researching the Maine report, I found some of the “Team’s” internal emails. It is both shocking and sad to think such people are in charge of making any decisions that would have an effect on the health of others.
The Maine CDC report starts by admitting: “... the Maine CDC staff involved with this review have not spent their entire careers nor work fulltime in the topic area of health effects of RF radiation” — an understatement at best. In short, Maine CDC staff were completely at sea on the “smart” meter issue.
Another admission made in the Maine CDC report: “First, our review focused primarily on assessments and studies conducted by agen- cies we typically rely on for such work, such as government (US and international govern- ments) or government affiliated institutions.”
Governments that subsidize the “smart” grid (US = $3.4 Billion) are not impartial sources. Such governments quite obviously have an agenda they are promoting and cannot be re- lied upon for truth or objectivity.
Because they were clueless about “smart” meters, the “Maine CDC Smart Meters Team” mostly chose cell phone studies on which to base their findings — the same bogus apples- and-oranges type comparison seen elsewhere. To clarify, cell phone use is voluntary. “Smart” meters are forced on people. Cell phone use is not 24/7/365. “Smart” meters broadcast con- stantly. Indeed, one of the cell phone studies cited by Maine CDC says “... exposure is also reduced by limiting the number and length of calls.” How do we limit the number and length of “smart” meter broadcasts? We do not have that option. And cell phones broadcast radia- tion to the head. With “smart” meter radiation the whole body is exposed.
The “Team’s” internal emails showed they knew nothing of their subject and didn’t want to be involved. From “Team” member and important-sounding Andy Smith, a toxi- cologist and the Director of Environmental and Occupational Health Programs: “Why is it, whether wind power or smart meters or woodsmoke, regardless of whether we have the expertise, we get dragged into the mid- dle? Are we sure we want to get dragged into these?” And: “When is it better to say, ‘we don’t know?’”
Mr. Smith’s ignorance of the subject is con- firmed by CDC Director Dora Mills who wrote that: “... honestly, this is not his issue.” Not “his issue” but I guess the report looks better hav- ing “Maine’s Toxicologist and the Director of Environmental and Occupational Health Pro- grams” listed as a contributor.
Another impressive sounding contributor, Jay Hyland, Director of the Maine Radiation Control Program, had no idea what he was doing. In the emails, both he and Ms. Mills repeatedly state that “smart” meters have a
“10% use factor” — an incredible admission of ignorance. It shows they have no understand- ing of the almost constant duty cycle of “smart” meters of up to 190,000 broadcasts per day.
After the report came out, Mr. Mills tried to backpedal by saying, “I never said smart me- ters are safe.” And poor Mr. Hyland never did understand how “smart” meters worked, even after supposedly spending about six weeks on the case. Here’s what he wrote after the Maine CDC report was released:
“My understanding is the meters broadcast on some regular time table like once per hour, un- less the meters are acting as a repeater for oth- er meters, in which case the first meter would broadcast 6 times per hour, or something of that nature ...
“Could you please let us know what protocol the meters broadcast under? And: the state- ments we have been hearing and reading say things like ‘they will be operating for 41 min- utes a day’ and ‘ they will do most of their com- municating at night.’
“While we don’t know specifically where this comes from, it would be good to know what the protocol or specifications are, because they operate 10% of the time, could easily fall into either of the above statements.”
As a basic first step, wouldn’t “protocol or specifications” have been “good to know” be- fore Maine CDC wrote and submitted their report?
Trusting Maine Central Power for a straight answer, Mr. Hyland’s email was addressed to
them. They replied by sending him propagan- da from Exponent. Exponent is a scientists- for-hire product liability defense firm.
In his book, Doubt is Their Product: How Industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health, author David Michaels exposes Expo- nent, and similar outfits like Gradient. Mr. Mi- chaels explains: “They combine science with public relations to help clients avoid regula- tion and litigation. I have yet to see a study published by a product-defense firm that con- flicts with the needs of the study’s sponsors. The intent is to cast doubt on real science. The industry has deep roots in the fight over to- bacco.”
Indeed, APS is currently using video clips of Gradient mercenary scientist Peter Valberg on their website and in their “smart” meter pre- sentations. Mr. Valberg is literally a “tobacco scientist” having worked for Phillip Morris in the “light cigarettes” lawsuit.
This is the kind of pseudo-science APS is resorting to — poorly researched reports put together by incompetent bureaucrats such as the Maine CDC, and mercenaries like Mr. Val- berg.
“Smart” meters are not safe and have not been proven safe. The time for a total safety recall is now.
| Warren Woodward is a Sedona resident who’s been independently investigating and documenting
“smart” meters for over two years.
w6345789@yahoo.com
thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news • AUGUST 2013 • 35