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MARSHALL - A proposed high-voltage power line project has taken another step forward in the planning stages, and the Office of Energy Security was accepting public comments on CapX 2020 Tuesday in Marshall.

The CapX project would build a 345 kilovolt transmission line running from Brookings, S.D., east to Hampton, Minn. One branch of the line would run north from Marshall to a newly constructed substation near Granite Falls. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission accepted a permit application for the project in January, an official said.

Alternatives on display Tuesday included routing part of the transmission lines south of Ghent instead of north, and having the lines follow Minnesota Highway 23 between Cottonwood and Granite Falls, rather than going through farm land.

Area residents had more questions about the transmission line's safety and route than about a draft environmental study featured at the meeting. However, Scott Ek of the state's Office of Energy Security said those questions would have more impact at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 1 in Marshall.

During the public comment section of the meeting, Dan Wambeke of Green Valley came forward with clarifications for the report, including some "narrow" areas where power lines would be passing near residences. Moving the lines from one side of the road to the other could have a big impact in those cases, he said.

"I think there are probably more (narrow areas) that need to be identified," Wambeke said. He also wanted to make note that one of the proposed routes would affect his home, grove and hog barn.

Wambeke's final comment was that the environmental study should include the views of those who think there is a health risk in living near the electromagnetic field generated by a high-voltage line.

"Would you confirm or deny any health issues with EMF and power lines?" Galen Boerboom asked Ek.

Ek said medical studies have found no solid link between power lines and health conditions like leukemia.

"There is more information on the subject than there is for most chemicals," Ek said. "Epidemiological studies have found some correlation, but it's minute, and they can't reproduce it in the lab."

"What's the reason for staying so close to the road?" asked Ken VanKeulen. Having the lines avoid roads would also keep them away from residences, he said.

"Some people don't want them through section lines," or through farmland, Ek said. In some cases, it's easier to route power lines along existing corridors than opening new ones.

Ek said questions like Boerboom and VanKeulen's would have more impact if they were asked again at the Dec. 1 hearing.

"We don't want to discourage those comments, but it would be best to also go to the public hearing," Ek said.

About 30 people attended the afternoon meeting, and another was scheduled for Tuesday evening. Comments from this week's public meetings and upcoming hearings before an administrative law judge will factor in the PUC's final decision on the proposal.

"Hopefully, those (comments) would clarify any questions and make the environmental impact statement more robust," Ek said.

Past public comments have resulted in alternative route proposals for some of the line. Public comments on the environmental impact study will be accepted until Nov. 30, Ek said. Hard copies of the study draft are available at the Ivanhoe, Marshall, Granite Falls and Redwood Falls libraries, or online at energyfacilities.puc.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=25589.