On August 22nd owners of the Bleed Heart Floral Farm in rural Mazeppa held a benefit to raise funds for legal fees to fight the proposed 765kV Extra High Voltage transmission line crossing their property. Over one hundred friends, neighbors and concerned individuals gathered for pizza, beer and music at the farm. Live music was provided by local bands, Cook County and Honeymoon Madness.
Bleed Heart Floral Farm & Design is a cut flower farm and floral design studio owned by Tony Lenz and Allie Kuppenbender. Situated on fourteen acres, BHF is nestled in the Zumbro River Valley just outside of Mazeppa, MN. During the growing season here in Minnesota, they offer locally grown and seasonally available flora wholesale to floral designers, and retail via a weekly bouquet subscription, bulk buckets for DIY customers, and wedding & event design work. They service Rochester, the Twin Cities, and the Mississippi River Valley.
The 765KV Extra High Voltage power transmission line is proposed to pass through their farm and the 250’ wide easement would completely wipe out their growing area and existing perennials planted on the farm. The easement area cannot be used for growing crops such as Christmas trees or buildings. Also, the electro-magnetic field generated by the Extra High Voltage transmission line has potential health risks, especially to children. The survival of their business and health concerns have them fighting to protect their property.
The 765kV transmission lines carries, 6x the energy as the 315kV transmission lines currently in the Highway 52 corridor. The 765kV EHV transmission line is carrying power from South Dakota to Wisconsin. It starts down the I-90 corridor but turns and heads north, skirting Rochester passing Mazeppa and heading into Pine Island. This coincides with the location of the proposed Data Center in Pine Island which has been in the news in the past year.
Their concerns are for the future of their business as well and destruction of their livelihood and value of their property. A 765 kV high-voltage transmission line produces extremely low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and, in overhead configurations, audible corona discharge. While regulatory bodies like the U.S. EPA and ICNIRP set exposure limits, some experts and medical professionals have raised concerns about possible health and environmental impacts.
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure Risks include Childhood leukemia: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies ELF magnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, with some studies showing a statistical association between long-term exposure above ~0.3–0.4 µT (3–4 mG) and a higher risk of childhood leukemia. Some epidemiological studies suggest possible links to other cancers, but evidence is less consistent
Neurological effects, reports include sleep disturbances, headaches, and possible contributions to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, though causality is not proven. Research indicates chronic EMF exposure may cause cellular stress and oxidative damage
Corona Discharge and Acoustic Effects. Overhead 765 kV lines can produce continuous corona discharge, especially in wet or humid conditions, generating a low-frequency hum (around 120 Hz) and audible crackling. This “acoustic trespass” can penetrate walls and affect sleep, potentially disrupting brain waste-clearance cycles. Some medical experts, such as the cardiologist in the Minnesota case, argue that the energy from corona discharge can perform “mechanical work” on tissues, though this is not supported by mainstream physics or medical consensus.
Environmental Impacts on Wildlife: EMFs and corona discharge can interfere with navigation, foraging, and reproduction in birds, bees, and other pollinators. Some studies report altered growth or stress responses in plants near high-voltage lines.
