Current Events > Why does the US still use above ground power lines?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I have traveled to other countries and many, even many 3rd world ones, have underground power lines. This is good in case of a hurricane.

So why are our power lines above ground so often?

Also why are our houses made of wood, Sheetrock and those frail metallic frames for the drywall?

Of course a hurricane will blow away that stuff. In many other countries the houses are made of brick and cement

1) it costs money, and we're cheap
2) nobody wants their yard dug up to run lines, so the government would likely have to resort to eminent domain to get it done

treewojima posted...

1) it costs money, and we're cheap
2) nobody wants their yard dug up to run lines, so the government would likely have to resort to eminent domain to get it done

So much for a supposed 1st world country
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A significant portion of our power network here in NZ is still above-ground. Mind you, we don't get the same level of extreme weather as the US.

Cities, upper-class suburbs and some middle-class suburbs, as well as pretty much all new suburbs regardless of class, have underground. The remaining suburbs and rural areas all have above-ground (and I use the term "rural" quite loosely).
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treewojima posted...

1) it costs money, and we're cheap
2) nobody wants their yard dug up to run lines, so the government would likely have to resort to eminent domain to get it done

1) >:(
2) >:( >:(

Then we get all freaked out over a hurricane... well duh!

Replacing an entire countries power system when we already have one that is 'good enough' would be kinda expensive

Why should Seattle be hurricane proofed when we are unlikely to be hit by one?

because squirrels r jerks

wait
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Complete_Idi0t posted...

Replacing an entire countries power system when we already have one that is 'good enough' would be kinda expensive

wait a minute... you're not an idiot at all!

LET'S GET 'IM BOYOS

treewojima posted...

Complete_Idi0t posted...

Replacing an entire countries power system when we already have one that is 'good enough' would be kinda expensive

wait a minute... you're not an idiot at all!

LET'S GET 'IM BOYOS

A shopped cock is right once a day.
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Complete_Idi0t posted...

Replacing an entire countries power system when we already have one that is 'good enough' would be kinda expensive

Little by little?

Hawaiian_punch posted...

Also why are our houses made of wood, Sheetrock and those frail metallic frames for the drywall

What? I've done a good deal of home remodel and have no clue what these metal frames are you mention.
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KILBOTz posted...

Hawaiian_punch posted...

Also why are our houses made of wood, Sheetrock and those frail metallic frames for the drywall

What? I've done a good deal of home remodel and have no clue what these metal frames are you mention.

@KILBOTz

These metal things:

http://www.drywallinteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/commercial_drywall_framing_2.jpg

How do you call them again? Theyre quite frail

Americans don't like massive government spending, unless it is to bloat the military budget.
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Complete_Idi0t posted...

Why should Seattle be hurricane proofed when we are unlikely to be hit by one?

last time that happened was in 2007 but that was because the storm system was fed by typhoon remnants of mitag and hagibis. some areas got hit harder than others. power was out for 6-7 days.

hurricane force winds etc.
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Probably depends a lot on population density. Costs too much to run power under ground everywhere for the amount of people it'll provide on top of maintenance. Imagine trying to find a potential break in the system with 20 miles of line for a population of a few thousand
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My state doesn't deal with hurricanes, we deal with earthquakes and fires. Putting power lines below ground doesn't seem like it's worth it when the ground is constantly shifting.
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We don't need our endangered gophers getting electrocuted.
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we don't want to disturb the dwarves
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A lot of places around here do have underground power grids. Mostly in newer developments.
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