People/Lack of Transmission Lines

[mrnick]

Hi All.
I have a question that constantly stumps me. Why is it that when a certain region of a state/area needs power, and when there are blackouts, everyone says they need a new power line. Then when the utility company wants to build a new line, the same people who say that they need power, are the ones who protest the line being built! Why protest something that is needed?

Here where I live in Maryland, some 230kv lines with empty "arms" on the towers, are now being installed with new conductor, due to existing rights of way.


Just wondering what you pro's out there think :-)

[old lineman]

Hi All.
I have a question that constantly stumps me. Why is it that when a certain region of a state/area needs power, and when there are blackouts, everyone says they need a new power line. Then when the utility company wants to build a new line, the same people who say that they need power, are the ones who protest the line being built! Why protest something that is needed?

Here where I live in Maryland, some 230kv lines with empty "arms" on the towers, are now being installed with new conductor, due to existing rights of way.


Just wondering what you pro's out there think :-)

It's the "not in my back yard ", syndrome.
I goes across the board from airports to highwys and landfills.
Wierd isn't it? I think they call that progress.
The Old Lineman

[mrnick]

check this out, these people are pissed about a 500kV line being built. I am about 30 miles from the area where it will be built in Virginia. http://www.whosedominion.org

[graybeard]

Reminds me of Sen. Kerrys opposition to I think it was wind turbines off the coast of Mass. Not in my back yard and the more money thay have the more they seem to oppose these kinds of things. Doesn't make sense to me.

[altecworker]

If Duke Power wanted to locate a Substation in my area, I'd scramble for the opp. for them to purchase a portion of our un-used land, and build the sub right smack in view of my house. Right of way be damned, I can mow around a tower or three, it's not a big deal, hell I can even weed-eat around the sub fence. Having people living near substations, and lines, they pay attention to the Subs and Lines, and might notice day to day changes in how the transformers hum, or they might hear corona, and they can call in and tell the power company before things get out of hand.

Sorry, let me get out of my Perfect World Syndrome, that's me above though, hahaha.:D

I drive by the local Sub about twice a week, I stop, pull into the yard about every tenth trip or so, and shut off the engine, listen for around 30 seconds, then go about my merry way. I always keep the accidents in Florida with that Sub that blew up, in the back of my mind.

[thrasher]

Having worked in Northern Virginia area years ago I can tell you that the area is full of lawyers, environmentalists, nimby's and nope's. That one of the reasons I left.
For those who don't know:
nimby= Not In My BackYard
nope= Not On Planet Earth

[Orgnizdlbr]

There is a solution that would change the mindset of the public. The solution is not politically correct, but who gives a hoot. In order to demonstrate to the public what opposition to such projects would ultimately result in, by projects I mean the following:

Transmission lines
Nuclear Generating Stations
Fossil Generating Stations
Substations
any other infrastructure associated with the transmission, distribution and generation of electricity.

De-energize all transmission lines
Take all Fossil and Nuclear plants off line. Follow this practice on a regular basis, say every 3rd day. Allow the public to be without power on a regular basis, then see how much opposition there is from a majority of the public. Of course no one will ever do it, but it would be an interesting experiment.

[BigClive]

De-energize all transmission lines
Take all Fossil and Nuclear plants off line. Follow this practice on a regular basis, say every 3rd day. Allow the public to be without power on a regular basis, then see how much opposition there is from a majority of the public. Of course no one will ever do it, but it would be an interesting experiment.

You took the words right out my mouth, but said it in a much more dignified way. :)

What we really need to do is make people more aware of the health benefits of local power lines. I mean, apart from misadventure, it strikes me that most full time lot work linemen seem to live to a ripe old age. :D

[mrnick]

You took the words right out my mouth, but said it in a much more dignified way. :)

What we really need to do is make people more aware of the health benefits of local power lines. I mean, apart from misadventure, it strikes me that most full time lot work linemen seem to live to a ripe old age. :D



Clivester, that makes a lot of sense! If people claim that they get cancer from power lines, linemen would be the ones more prone to get it, since they work on voltages up to 765kV everyday. damn environmentalists lol.

[mrnick]

Having worked in Northern Virginia area years ago I can tell you that the area is full of lawyers, environmentalists, nimby's and nope's. That one of the reasons I left.
For those who don't know:
nimby= Not In My BackYard
nope= Not On Planet Earth

Thrash,
If you work for Dominion, you have some gnarly transmission tower designs in your system. When I get my engineering degree, I am considering Dominion or Duke Power to start my job with. Great companies.

[mrnick]

If Duke Power wanted to locate a Substation in my area, I'd scramble for the opp. for them to purchase a portion of our un-used land, and build the sub right smack in view of my house. Right of way be damned, I can mow around a tower or three, it's not a big deal, hell I can even weed-eat around the sub fence. Having people living near substations, and lines, they pay attention to the Subs and Lines, and might notice day to day changes in how the transformers hum, or they might hear corona, and they can call in and tell the power company before things get out of hand.

Sorry, let me get out of my Perfect World Syndrome, that's me above though, hahaha.:D

I drive by the local Sub about twice a week, I stop, pull into the yard about every tenth trip or so, and shut off the engine, listen for around 30 seconds, then go about my merry way. I always keep the accidents in Florida with that Sub that blew up, in the back of my mind.


Tec,
I am the exact same way, well sort of, I am more into checking out the different voltages going into a substation, and occasionally I will listen to the hum lol. Can't do that anymore, people here call the police, so I just stay away. I like your idea about mowing the lawn, the power co. would like that. So your from NC? You have some cool power lines in your state(well, the peidmont area of NC and some of SC). This is my all time favorite 500kv tower design, only Duke Power and BGE in Maryland have these EXACT towers, some towes in the country are similar, but not the same and will never be the same as these. Damn I love my hobby/future career :-)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/theogdenmancan/us601unioncountync4.jpg

[Alan Mac]

Clivester, that makes a lot of sense! If people claim that they get cancer from power lines, linemen would be the ones more prone to get it, since they work on voltages up to 765kV everyday. damn environmentalists lol.


I'm with you guys on this, it's something we've been saying for years. One thing I have noticed over here is that guys in the electricity industry produce a higher percentage of daughters over sons. Anybody noticed that anywhere else?

Mac