Another High Voltage Line in U.S. to be Buried

TDI New England recently filed an application to build its proposed New England Clean Power Link transmission project (Vermontbiz). As TDI New England’s website indicates, “The…line…will be…completely buried to minimize impacts to local communities and the environment”.

The 154-mile-long direct current high voltage line would bring electricity from Quebec to Vermont and the New England marketplace. About 97.3 miles of the proposed line would be buried under Lake Champlain, and about 56.7 miles would be buried along existing town and state road and railroad rights-of-way or on land owned by TDI New England.

TDI New England points out that, when compared to above-ground high voltage transmission lines, the proposed underground and underwater New England Clean Power Link would: have minimal environmental impacts, protect the area’s natural resources, respect Vermont’s natural beauty, not negatively impact local communities, and the buried line would not be vulnerable to natural disasters.

The same electricity transmission company has been working to get approval of its proposed Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) transmission project that would run from Quebec to New York City. This line would also be buried under Lake Champlain and along existing public road and railway rights-of-way. Visit this link for more information on the proposed CHPE underground and underwater transmission project.

It is interesting that TDI New England in the U.S. finds it economically and technically feasible to build underwater and underground high voltage transmission lines, while so many other transmission companies in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere around the world erroneously suggest it is not possible to bury high voltage lines and/or it is too expensive. Based on extensive research by RETA, it is indeed economically and technically feasible to bury DC and AC high voltage transmission lines. In fact, when you combine the capital, maintenance and transmission loss costs over the life of a line, buried lines can be less expensive than overhead lines. There are many advantages to burying high voltage lines including: safety, health, property value, environmental, and aesthetic (including visual).

It’s time all new high voltage transmission lines get buried.

~ by RETA on December 10, 2014.