Idea for nationwide infrastructure project: Bury the power lines

[HomerJS]

Seems we go through this much too often. We get power back and the same thing will happen over and over again.

Think it might be worth it?

Might get slammed for this but just askin'

 

[DrewSG3]

Where is the money gonna come from?

 

[Brigandier]

Seems we go through this much too often. We get power back and the same thing will happen over and over again.

Think it might be worth it?

Might get slammed for this but just askin'

When they do that they can also beef up communications infrastructure.

 

[HomerJS]

Where is the money gonna come from?

Do a cost/benefit. If its worth it we can find the money.

If we can come up with 1.5T to fight a war we shouldn't have (Iraq), we can find it for a worthwile project.

 

[conehead433]

It costs a small fortune to bury power lines versus stringing them overhead, even considering the additional maintenance costs for the overhead lines. Considering the cost it's almost never cost effective to run underground lines in rural areas. That said, it makes really good sense to run underground lines in metro areas, areas prone to icing, and areas prone to hurricane damage.

 

[Agent11]

instead of burying it why not have utility trenches or tunnels with the phone, fiber, power lines, water all in the same accessible protected structure?

Would cost a little more up front but you would be able to upgrade, inspect and maintain it much easier.

 

[Engineer]

I don't think burying high voltage lines is really an option. Tens if not hundreds of thousands of volts in the ground creates a huge insulation problem.

As for residential lines, I don't see an issue as my lines are buried from the transformer (which is on the ground and not a pole) to my home.

 

[GregGreen]

Seems we go through this much too often. We get power back and the same thing will happen over and over again.

Think it might be worth it?

Might get slammed for this but just askin'

Actually, part of the problem in Manhattan is that the lines were buried. Sea water flooded the area, got in where it's not supposed to, and ruined a lot of the infrastructure.

 

[HomerJS]

It costs a small fortune to bury power lines versus stringing them overhead, even considering the additional maintenance costs for the overhead lines. Considering the cost it's almost never cost effective to run underground lines in rural areas. That said, it makes really good sense to run underground lines in metro areas, areas prone to icing, and areas prone to hurricane damage.

Ok maybe focus on more densely populated areas. It would then be far easier to service rural areas that still have overhead power.

 

[Howard]

Actually, part of the problem in Manhattan is that the lines were buried. Sea water flooded the area, got in where it's not supposed to, and ruined a lot of the infrastructure.

So they weren't laid according to modern standard then?

 

[Northern Lawn]

It costs a small fortune to bury power lines versus stringing them overhead, even considering the additional maintenance costs for the overhead lines. Considering the cost it's almost never cost effective to run underground lines in rural areas. That said, it makes really good sense to run underground lines in metro areas, areas prone to icing, and areas prone to hurricane damage.

In all new neighbourhoods they are buried. All cables are buried.

 

[Steeplerot]

Ok maybe focus on more densely populated areas. It would then be far easier to service rural areas that still have overhead power.

Meh, Corporate apologists said this about building rural power lines in the first place, luckily we ignored them and went ahead and built the biggest superpower economy in the world.

 

[JEDIYoda]

So they weren't laid according to modern standard then?

Thats not what was said......

They were probably according to the standard for the time they were laid...

 

[Steeplerot]

If we are redoing it, decentralize power with renewable and bury the lines that service larger industries/buildings that need more juice. Putting all your eggs in one basket with giant power plants and transmission is asking for a solar flare or something to send us back to the stone age.

We are due for another big one sooner or later. Our 1930s-50s era power transmission/generation is suicidal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

 

[dmcowen674]

If we are redoing it, decentralize power with renewable and bury the lines that service larger industries/buildings that need more juice. Putting all your eggs in one basket with giant power plants and transmission is asking for a solar flare or something to send us back to the stone age.

We are due for another big one sooner or later. Our 1930s-50s era power transmission/generation is suicidal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

We need a huge CME. Many people need to be shocked by their mouse.

 

[nextJin]

The problem is finding out where the lines are cut and serious flooding, here in the DC area it was no where near as bad because the utilities had already cut trees down and did their preventive maintenance.

If it is a new community it is much easier to bury because the site is laid out as such that trees would never be a problem as well as flooding is all taken into consideration.

 

[boomerang]

Where is the money gonna come from?

Tax the rich - duh...

 

[dennilfloss]

In all new neighbourhoods they are buried. All cables are buried.

Same here and they did the same in my old neighborhood when they tore out the boulevard near my place to replace the water mains. All phone, hydro, etc... lies in a tunnel under the street as far as I know)

 

[rudder]

Where is the money gonna come from?

That is the big question... but I will add I live in a neighborhood where all utilities are underground... and it is definetely more pleasing to the eye. But I would hate to think of the cost difference of throwing up a pole every few yards versus burying all these lines.

 

[rcpratt]

Just like every major civil infrastructure project...it's all about the money. Our infrastructure is pathetic but there is simply no money to handle it.

As with all things in this country, we will wait until the crappy infrastructure nearly cripples us, and then apply a rushed, band-aid fix.

 

[momeNt]

I have a better idea. Move the entire east coast Montana, N/S Dakota, Wyoming, etc.

There is nothing that the east coast offers that couldn't be done with small rural towns. Time to move, it's too dangerous. The GDP infusion from building so many cities would be tremendous.

 

[Genx87]

I have a better idea. Move the entire east coast Montana, N/S Dakota, Wyoming, etc.

There is nothing that the east coast offers that couldn't be done with small rural towns. Time to move, it's too dangerous. The GDP infusion from building so many cities would be tremendous.

The only thing I would warn people is the red river valley floods yearly lol

 

[momeNt]

The only thing I would warn people is the red river valley floods yearly lol

You can plan around that a lot better than Sandy.

All the illegals can move to the vacant east coast. We also can make Manhattan the new Israel, it would end the Middle East / Israel problem.

 

[Anarchist420]

The problem goes back to the guilded age when the govt endorsed or lead to the endorsement of ac power over dc power.
Ac power is good for corporations and the state, dc power is good for the smaller level like the individual or the household. Dc power is not only cleaner it is also cheaper in the long run because internal powersupplies of all household appliances and electronics wouldn't have to be as beefy. Alternating current sucks!

If we are redoing it, decentralize power with renewable and bury the lines that service larger industries/buildings that need more juice. Putting all your eggs in one basket with giant power plants and transmission is asking for a solar flare or something to send us back to the stone age.

We are due for another big one sooner or later. Our 1930s-50s era power transmission/generation is suicidal.

I actually agree nearly 100% with the above.

 

[hal2kilo]

I have a better idea. Move the entire east coast Montana, N/S Dakota, Wyoming, etc.

There is nothing that the east coast offers that couldn't be done with small rural towns. Time to move, it's too dangerous. The GDP infusion from building so many cities would be tremendous.

You must not like Fresh seafood.