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Underwater Cable an Alternative Electrical Towers

New York Times -- Generating 20 percent of America’s electricity with wind, as recent studies proposed, would require building up to 22,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines. But the huge towers and unsightly tree-cutting that these projects require have provoked intense public opposition.

Recently, though, some companies are finding a remarkably simple answer to that political problem. They are putting power lines under water, in a string of projects that has so far provoked only token opposition from environmentalists and virtually no reaction from the larger public.

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Submitted Mar 17, 2010 By: fordmexico

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,279 Points:1,144,250 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 10:32:34 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse chemist: you may be rigth about the burying deeply, but I would still be concerned about folks who don't pay attention (remember the captain who ruined the company's 30+ year safety record by running aground at the same place as the Exxon Valdez?).
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,279 Points:1,144,250 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 10:30:59 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse how about putting most of those cables underground like they have done in Europe for a long time. And bring energy generation closer to the consumer? Oh, wait, that's too a novel an idea...
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:12,387 Points:2,179,065 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 5:41:55 PM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse If the cables are laid in rivers or lakes they will need to be buried deep enough to not be snagged by dragging anchors. When cables are laid across rivers there are often signs on both shores warning boat not to drag anchors in the area because of the damage that can result.
Naturenut99 All-Star Author Illinois Posts:966 Points:288,580 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 1:25:18 PM Ignore Naturenut99 Report Abuse Laying underwater cables is not exactly a new science. It may be the best (even though not perfect) solution.
TomT2Lee Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,817 Points:1,169,170 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:58:29 AM Ignore TomT2Lee Report Abuse Yea, I'm sure they is no side effects or danger from putting high voltage lines under water. Where is the verifiable/repeatable study on this to see what does happen? As long as something does not personal hurt them, people seem to be willing to blindly go along with anything.
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:11,157 Points:1,655,215 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:15:35 AM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse "Environmentalists need to be open-minded to technology improvements, and looking at the big picture." it's the enviro-terrorist that are the problem.
turbosaab Champion Author Cleveland Posts:14,947 Points:1,947,065 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:12:25 AM Ignore turbosaab Report Abuse Just get it done!
jppezz Champion Author New Mexico Posts:6,240 Points:1,227,630 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:08:55 AM Ignore jppezz Report Abuse Good move.
Masercal Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,610 Points:780,740 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:08:00 AM Ignore Masercal Report Abuse Underwater cables could definitely slow the opposition.
rocket_ron Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:3,929 Points:1,530,970 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:06:48 AM Ignore rocket_ron Report Abuse Cost for each repair may be high, but there should be less of them because they are not exposed to wind, ice, trees.
FieroGT Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,989 Points:2,099,665 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:05:28 AM Ignore FieroGT Report Abuse Oh oh. Someone will find a fish who got sick from radiated energy. Then what?
Grismer Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:6,273 Points:1,274,470 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:03:01 AM Ignore Grismer Report Abuse Underwater cable transmission represents a happy compromise for energy and environmental concerns.
Zinnoil Champion Author Florida Posts:18,901 Points:2,139,725 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:02:03 AM Ignore Zinnoil Report Abuse Dumber than dumb.
FPLREP Champion Author Virginia Posts:5,749 Points:1,987,135 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:00:56 AM Ignore FPLREP Report Abuse Underground has the visual advantage, but the maintenance & repair are lengthy and expensive. Also if there is an outage due to line failure or damage the outages can be very lengthy!
weenerdog Champion Author Detroit Posts:7,344 Points:1,440,435 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:59:48 AM Ignore weenerdog Report Abuse I'm sure some of the trees need to go
CSharpGuy Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:7,131 Points:1,436,285 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:59:35 AM Ignore CSharpGuy Report Abuse Environmentalists would have us live in the dark ages.
billy44bo Champion Author Mobile Posts:5,193 Points:1,045,685 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:55:28 AM Ignore billy44bo Report Abuse underground is not all its crack up to be coast very high lighting hits screws the line up
abuck Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:6,256 Points:1,078,905 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:54:20 AM Ignore abuck Report Abuse Underground works, so underwater should work as well. the places I lived in Ohio before moving back here had the majority of the power lines underground. Same thing with the phone lines, cable etc.
AvantiMick Champion Author Indiana Posts:10,527 Points:2,098,810 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:54:11 AM Ignore AvantiMick Report Abuse That would have to work for offshore wind farms. Don't see much use inland.
rowing Champion Author Macon Posts:1,056 Points:632,505 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:52:11 AM Ignore rowing Report Abuse I agree with RichardoB
RocketGeek Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:8,246 Points:1,646,160 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:51:08 AM Ignore RocketGeek Report Abuse Interesting. I'll guess that high-voltage lines benefit from some cooling in free air. I suppose there is a similar effect in water. Not so much perhaps buried in the earth.
RichardoB Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:5,635 Points:1,538,985 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:48:35 AM Ignore RichardoB Report Abuse Underwater would be limited to certain areas. Underground cabling would be ideal if feasible.
dhawk24 Champion Author Maine Posts:5,540 Points:1,149,835 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:44:49 AM Ignore dhawk24 Report Abuse Who cares about the environmentalists?
tc316 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,759 Points:1,273,930 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:44:44 AM Ignore tc316 Report Abuse If it works ok
ftsgt Champion Author Illinois Posts:10,730 Points:2,062,360 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:43:34 AM Ignore ftsgt Report Abuse i live in a new subdivision where the power lines are underground...love it
my3sons Champion Author New York Posts:4,455 Points:1,506,535 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:41:29 AM Ignore my3sons Report Abuse great idea if you can make it happen
jeskibuff Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,309 Points:986,220 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:41:23 AM Ignore jeskibuff Report Abuse BM4225 said: "what happens when the lines break, do we end up frying the fish?" The fishermen will get fried too, so it will ensure that the ecological balance in the food chain is maintained.
BoerneWatch Champion Author San Antonio Posts:12,937 Points:1,989,055 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:39:17 AM Ignore BoerneWatch Report Abuse I so wish our power lines were out of sight.
03mdx Champion Author Syracuse Posts:3,497 Points:1,106,825 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:38:15 AM Ignore 03mdx Report Abuse I think that this sounds like a very good alternative.
Don1222 Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,802 Points:1,089,855 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:38:11 AM Ignore Don1222 Report Abuse Alternative energy.
WonderfulMI Champion Author Michigan Posts:9,036 Points:1,322,830 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:37:49 AM Ignore WonderfulMI Report Abuse Great line, DeepInOhio: " . . .drivers who are texting" Mackinaw Island gets it power from Sault St. Marie via underwater cables.
turbodog Champion Author Mississippi Posts:4,402 Points:898,465 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:36:16 AM Ignore turbodog Report Abuse If underwater cable can be done reliably, it certainly reduces many maintenance issues.
rogerparry Champion Author Florida Posts:7,214 Points:1,452,005 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:35:39 AM Ignore rogerparry Report Abuse If it works, OK.
DeepInOhio Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,024 Points:656,560 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:35:04 AM Ignore DeepInOhio Report Abuse Underground/water is better insulation against storms and drivers who are texting.
Redink Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,048 Points:887,280 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:33:00 AM Ignore Redink Report Abuse This could be very beneficial to those near water.
pkhdonovan Champion Author Maine Posts:9,645 Points:2,239,920 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:32:10 AM Ignore pkhdonovan Report Abuse I don't see how this will work either.
fordfan1 Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,741 Points:1,426,065 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:31:34 AM Ignore fordfan1 Report Abuse We won't have to worry about them being blown over in the wind or knocked down in a ice storm.
gabbygusIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,891 Points:1,094,925 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:30:56 AM Ignore gabbygusIN Report Abuse Great Idea but very expensive!!!
theawesome1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:6,983 Points:1,305,335 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:30:03 AM Ignore theawesome1 Report Abuse Plenty of treeless areas for turbines to be built. All junkyarads can get one like I have in my neighborhood visible on I480. But companies like First Energy who bought CLE's Illuminating Co just went all over Ohio chopped trees in half to avoid their power lines. UGLY! People are cutting thhem all down eventho they do not own them. City property & City won't cut them. [Edited by: theawesome1 at 3/17/2010 6:30:59 AM EST]
epf Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:3,957 Points:1,428,210 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:29:16 AM Ignore epf Report Abuse Like under ground cables, maybe we are making progress.
Doubleeez Champion Author Connecticut Posts:5,080 Points:908,695 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:27:58 AM Ignore Doubleeez Report Abuse Good place for them. Out of sight and and away from damage from falling debris in weather storms.
ttwiw Champion Author Austin Posts:2,166 Points:1,300,310 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:27:34 AM Ignore ttwiw Report Abuse Ingenious... but darn expensive!
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:5,429 Points:1,082,615 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:27:21 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse what about Nemo and his buddies...hope they are "down" with this.
gasandgoAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:4,668 Points:1,124,820 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:26:06 AM Ignore gasandgoAL Report Abuse I am for anything that will help the American people with their energy bills and also the small business man
Ringmaster2008 Champion Author Ontario Posts:5,348 Points:843,480 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:25:40 AM Ignore Ringmaster2008 Report Abuse Why not underwater and under ground. Less chance of damage from winds and snow load.
skippypa Champion Author Hawaii Posts:6,110 Points:1,275,980 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:23:38 AM Ignore skippypa Report Abuse Good only if it is by water.
ironbox_sara Champion Author Albany Posts:7,255 Points:1,784,040 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:22:54 AM Ignore ironbox_sara Report Abuse No, It's not "intense public opposition." It's the small, usual band of KOOKS that protest everything.
dar 1 Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,612 Points:336,040 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:21:16 AM Ignore dar 1 Report Abuse Should work fine.
Metroman Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:8,244 Points:1,748,885 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:17:22 AM Ignore Metroman Report Abuse I don't want to be the one that has to service it!
Ratso Champion Author Ohio Posts:15,071 Points:2,220,870 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 6:16:57 AM Ignore Ratso Report Abuse Great idea ..now getting it done is another thing!