Public Health Research Roadmap on Emerging Electricity Systems

This report establishes a public health research roadmap for anticipating and preventing possible health impacts of emerging electricity systems on industry workers and surrounding communities. The project team conducted expert interviews and bibliographic research to compile information and resources on the topic. Research focused on electricity generation, storage, and distribution technologies already in use or likely to become part of California’s grid by 2030. These emerging electricity systems were assessed across the technology life cycle to identify hazards to human health and gaps in the current understanding of the potential for negative health impacts for Californians. Recommendations for further research were prioritized using public health and equity criteria. These recommendations include (1) causal research to establish relationships between new materials and processes and human health impacts and (2) prevention research to lessen known hazards through improved engineering and design in the development stage, green chemistry, education, and training for industry workers, businesses, and the public.