|
|
|
|
Why can’t our power be sustained through, or at least restored shortly after, such storms? After all, here we are in the 21st century with all kinds of technological advances and almost 40 years since we put a man on the moon.
The idea of laying power lines underground has been around for a long time, but this has not been done to any great extent. Ike’s legacy should be a serious focus on underground power transmission along populated coastal regions.
Charles Brower, AEP’s manager of engineering, said his company has discussed the idea. He used Bolivar peninsula as an example: He said the storm surge in that situation would be the same for above ground or below ground power lines because underground power lines would have to come up to a pad used for mounted equipment, including a transformer switch.
“The surge would wipe it out anyway,” Brower said. But, of course, the Bolivar peninsula is a unique example and not representative of the Texas Coast.
Brower said another problem — the main problem — is trees being uprooted by the storm. “The roots pulled underground cables out of the ground” during Hurricane Rita.
Wind was the main cause of power lines being downed in Houston, not trees. The economic impact of the storm is unfathomable. After initial estimates, it would be difficult to figure the cause-effect chain for business and personal loss.
For example, the closure of a Houston airport for two days, Continental Airline Inc.’s largest hub, “cost the carrier about $50 million” alone, according to an Associated Press story.
Brower said his company was “looking at those kinds of things, ways to solve outages.”
According to Brower, the cost for underground power lines is eight times that of overhead power lines strung on poles.
Brower said his company discussions center on “hurricane hardening” for 30 miles inland from the Texas Coast. This could mean underground or above-ground power lines that would use sturdier, heavier poles (maybe something other than wood).
He said the cost for overhead power lines on better poles would cost about $500 million. After distribution of lines, the power company’s entire investment would total between $700 million and $800 million.
“Underground lines in the same zone would be about $4 billion,” he said, and he compared that price to the cost of building nuclear power plants. Exelon will spend about $7 billion for two units here.
Brower said the work would have to be done over a period of years, and ultimately the cost would be passed along to ratepayers.
Although $4 billion is a daunting figure, it does not compare with the estimated loss in Houston and Galveston of $22 billion and probably more, according to an article written by Willie Drye and published online by National Geographic News. This cost would “make it the third costliest hurricane on record behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992.”
We think underground power lines are viable in terms of wind damage, especially in areas like Houston where wind did most of the damage and especially when damage totals so much more than the cost of fixing the problem.
Perhaps the better poles would be better in certain areas, but one thing is certain: Something must be done to fix the problem regardless of the investment and how long it would take to implement. The utility companies must have a long-term plan for improving their performance in hurricanes.
The state government and federal government should get involved in the process to minimize such loss. Fixing power lines so they last through such storms is one way to avoid economic disaster, the like that Hurricane Ike has accomplished.
Inaction means billions of damage again at some point in the future when another hurricane visits. We can avoid this if we urge power companies to act now to begin a “hardening” of the Texas Coast.
This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate’s editorial board.