Health & Fitness
Post-Irene: Anger, Frustration and an Important Question on Power Lines
Is it time to put power lines below ground?
The most recent storm that along the East Coast has triggered in our state over the storm response of CL&P and UI. While we can argue that all day long, this ultimately will, in my mind, end up as a conversation on power lines being buried or left above ground. It has to be as the problem will never go away.
Just last winter we had to spend millions on upgrades to the system and maintenance efforts aimed at tree pruning along power lines. While that is a step in the right direction and should be applauded, this will take several years according to the company, and still does not address the problem that will always be present, namely, the vulnerability of above ground lines and poles to high, sustained winds and strong gusts.
Think of all the money we all lose each time a storm hits the region: productivity stoppages, school closings, food supplies spoiled, funds spent on generators as well as the gasoline to run them, and the biggest issue of all...the vulnerability of the elderly, ill, and frail. This doesn't even take into consideration the accidents, injuries, and fatalities involving poles. The aesthetic portion of the equation is just final piece of the argument to possibly deciding to "bite the bullet" and pay to bury the lines.
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To be sure, this would be an astronomical cost to taxpayers. Regions and private associations that have already switched to the underground line transmissions need to be consulted as well as the maps and geography of each town considering this undertaking. Greenwich is known to have a lot of ledge so that really would drive the cost of this potential project up, but what is the alternative? The alternative is more of the same, namely, economic, social, and living disruptions in addition to the usual finger pointing and blame games.
Another counter to the cost component of this debate is that it would stimulate employment activity...engineering, IT, labor, etc...
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I am contacting officials and agencies to gather the necessary information so that the public, and public officials, can accurately assess the pros and cons of a possible major construction project that would produce an enormous benefit to the community. Please feel free to contact me at acamillo@gmail.com if you have any ideas, suggestions, or facts that can add to the public conversation that should take place....now.
