Why Aren't Powergrids Underground? 556
jonging asks: "It is common knowledge that an underground power grid is less susceptible to the effect of a large thunderstorm. The American Transmission Company cites numerous reasons why it (and other power companies I assume) do not bury their transmission lines underground (e.g. environmental concerns, cost of installation and repair, etc.). Exactly how detrimental are underground transmission lines to the environment? Wouldn't the time spent without a power outage generate more than enough revenue to offset initial costs? Aren't the need for repairs in cities with successful underground power grids rare?" The linked article goes into extensive detail about the disadvantages in initial costs of putting in underground lines, but doesn't go into any detail about the maintenance costs of either option. With storms getting worse and worse (Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia have weathered torrential downfalls this week), might underground lines prove more resistant to storm-related power outages?
Re:DC (Score:5, Funny)
"In about 10 months of running monitoring 24/7 on our UPS, I've never seen a major "power event" (outage, surge, something else big)"
If William of Ockham were here he would point out the obvious conclusion: The monitoring on your UPS doesn't work.
Re:Simple physics (Score:5, Funny)
Another answer is to move the users closer to the power stations! We should make the stations smaller and have more of them. What if every transmission pole was a power station? We should put a solar panel on top of every pole, and if we spin it around at 60 RPMs, voila! A/C!
Induction (Score:5, Funny)
Well, I can dream.
backhoe fade (Score:5, Funny)
The Backhoe, The Internet's Natural Enemy [slashdot.org]
Always carry a length of fiber-optic cable in your pocket. Should you be shipwrecked and find yourself stranded on a desert island, bury the cable in the sand. A few hours later, a guy driving a backhoe will be along to dig it up. Ask him to rescue you.
Re:It isn't free once it is in the ground either (Score:3, Funny)
What was that bright flash?
Our power line continuity tester!
Re:Hot Lines (Score:3, Funny)
Re: shared costs (Score:5, Funny)
I presume that the Germans, because of the constraints of their language's syntax at the end of which their sentences most of their verbs must put, cultural constraints that ahead they must think required are.
Paperclips (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Standardised/prefab roads and sidewalks? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It costs money? (Score:2, Funny)