Just a question...

[Henry Hawk]

With the recent events of the destructive storm that we (as a nation) encountered over the last weekend, leaving nearly 2 million without power, and millions of dollars of damage.  Shouldn't we have the technology and the capabilities to have a "fail safe" power grid available?
I am asking this without any knowledge of exactly what all would be involved or if this is the best we can do.

any thoughts on this or suggestive solutions?

[Palehorse]

We should, and the bolstering of our infrastructure is an integral part of "alternative energy" legislation the republicans have consistently said "no" to for the last 4 years. . .

[Henry Hawk]

We should, and the bolstering of our infrastructure is an integral part of "alternative energy" legislation the republicans have consistently said "no" to for the last 4 years. . .

Show me where the democrats wanted to BEEF up our electrical grid.  Solar Power and electric cars are all they have.  Are the electric cars helping out those on the east coast right now?  Would solar panles supply them with Air Conditioning?

I didn't intend for this to turn into a political debate as you guys always want to do. 

I was just curious if there are better, more common sensical ways to beef up or power grid so that this stuff doesn't continue to happen.

[Locutus]

Show me where the democrats wanted to BEEF up our electrical grid.  Solar Power and electric cars are all they have.  Are the electric cars helping out those on the east coast right now?  Would solar panles supply them with Air Conditioning?

I didn't intend for this to turn into a political debate as you guys always want to do. 

I was just curious if there are better, more common sensical ways to beef up or power grid so that this stuff doesn't continue to happen.

It isn't so much a problem with the power grid per se, but how that power is delivered to homes and businesses.  Power lines are primarily above ground in this country, and that subjects them to wind, ice, storms, trees, etc., and anything else that comes along because of weather.

Here in south Florida (at least in newer neighborhoods and towns), power lines are pretty much buried because of the ever present possibility of hurricanes.   You're very hard pressed to find any above ground power lines - save the high tension lines - anywhere around especially in the western suburbs. 

Germany as an example, buries all of its power lines and despite whatever weather is occurring outside, the lights stay on.  Hard to believe that some other country can do something better than we can, huh?   

[Henry Hawk]

It isn't so much a problem with the power grid per se, but how that power is delivered to homes and businesses.  Power lines are primarily above ground in this country, and that subjects them to wind, ice, storms, trees, etc., and anything else that comes along because of weather.

Here in south Florida (at least in newer neighborhoods and towns), power lines are pretty much buried because of the ever present possibility of hurricanes.   You're very hard pressed to find any above ground power lines - save the high tension lines - anywhere around especially in the western suburbs. 

Germany as an example, buries all of its power lines and despite whatever weather is occurring outside, the lights stay on.  Hard to believe that some other country can do something better than we can, huh?   

That is a exactly what I was looking for locutus!  A common sense approach to fixing this mess.  Why has the US, not incoporated this idea, like florida has, all across this nation.  It seems to me that would be something, that needs to happen.

Thanks for sharing that.

[Bo D]

That is a exactly what I was looking for locutus!  A common sense approach to fixing this mess.  Why has the US, not incoporated this idea, like florida has, all across this nation.  It seems to me that would be something, that needs to happen.

Thanks for sharing that.

$$$$$$

[Palehorse]

Show me where the democrats wanted to BEEF up our electrical grid.  Solar Power and electric cars are all they have.  Are the electric cars helping out those on the east coast right now?  Would solar panles supply them with Air Conditioning?

I didn't intend for this to turn into a political debate as you guys always want to do. 

I was just curious if there are better, more common sensical ways to beef up or power grid so that this stuff doesn't continue to happen.

I'm not showing you anything that you will not even give an ice cubes chance in hell of being considered.

And yes, solar power can provide enough power to proved the energy needs of any home. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of homes in this country that are "off the grid" and use no corporate generated electricity to power their homes. (And I'm excluding the Amish from that statement). Hell, it powers many of the satellites in orbit around this very planet.

Wind power generates enough power to supply entire cities with power. And for years a former Union 76 station along Indiana 41 powered it's entire truck stop operation from a single windmill located on the property. With enough excess power generated each month to get paid by REMC for it.

Distribution to the existing grid requires modifications of the infrastructure. And yet the very county we live in voted "NO" when a company wanted to build a wind farm here. Why? Because the local municipality owns the electricity utility and they didn't want any competition. Especially a competition that would provide an environmentally greener source, more reliable source, at a lower cost to consumers; effectively killing their monopoly and golden goose.

(BTW - the power within the area I live in is indeed buried underground).

[Henry Hawk]

$$$$$$

I agree, that is obviously the motivating factor....but there are tons of $$$$ being spent because the lack of a better way.

[Locutus]

That is a exactly what I was looking for locutus!  A common sense approach to fixing this mess.  Why has the US, not incoporated this idea, like florida has, all across this nation.  It seems to me that would be something, that needs to happen.

Thanks for sharing that.

You're welcome. 

The primary reason more power lines aren't buried is because of cost.  Some utilities estimate that it costs 10 times more to bury a line than it does to string it overhead on poles.  However, that's primarily from estimates that the power companies have done themselves.  Other studies have pointed to only 4-5 times more to bury.

I know you didn't want this to become political, but you may actually like what I say here.  The Obama stimulus has obviously failed to produce many projects of long term benefit to the American people.  Perhaps some of that money should have been spent burying some power lines.  It would have helped the unemployment rate of construction type workers who were widely affected by unemployment during the downturn, and it would have truly been a project of lasting benefit to future generations of Americans who could then rest assured that the lights (and more importantly, the AC or heat) stay on despite what's going on outside the window.

Just my two cents. 

[Locutus]

$$$$$$

Very succinct answer, but absolutely spot on. 

[Henry Hawk]

You're welcome. 

The primary reason more power lines aren't buried is because of cost.  Some utilities estimate that it costs 10 times more to bury a line than it does to string it overhead on poles.  However, that's primarily from estimates that the power companies have done themselves.  Other studies have pointed to only 4-5 times more to bury.

I know you didn't want this to become political, but you may actually like what I say here.  The Obama stimulus has obviously failed to produce many projects of long term benefit to the American people.  Perhaps some of that money should have been spent burying some power lines.  It would have helped the unemployment rate of construction type workers who were widely affected by unemployment during the downturn, and it would have truly been a project of lasting benefit to future generations of Americans who could then rest assured that the lights (and more importantly, the AC or heat) stay on despite what's going on outside the window.

Just my two cents. 

I realize it is easy to say somethings in hindsight, but I agree, the trillions of dollars that we spent, could have been better spent on such a project.

Maybe we need a better redundant system too. 

[Locutus]

I realize it is easy to say somethings in hindsight, but I agree, the trillions of dollars that we spent, could have been better spent on such a project.

Does that mean I can count on your vote when I run for POTUS. 

[Henry Hawk]

Does that mean I can count on your vote when I run for POTUS. 

That is does INDEED!!!

[Bo D]

Very succinct answer, but absolutely spot on. 

Thx. But really .... if people were willing to pay more for their electricity, do you think the power companies would bury the lines? Do people would be willing to pay more taxes in return for better services?

I think we've heard all this before.

[Locutus]

Indeed we have.