Wouldn’t it be difficult living without electricity? We live in a world where technology is constantly being innovated; therefore I feel it would be. In Topeka, especially on the eastern side of town, buildings are old and so are the power lines that energize them. These lines were designed based on the design of the infrastructures that were built around the same time. Since then a lot of development has occurred and has since caused problems due to power lines being above ground. The general design was based on tracing developments via easements and sidewalks. Tim Hrenchir, an editor for the Topeka Capitol Journal, stated that weather and tree branches are the cause of forty percent of city power outages; while another eight percent is due to traffic accidents (Hrenchir). Where would you say the problem lays?
A few years ago, a severe winter storm blew through the Topeka area and knocked out several power lines, resulting in thousands of power outages. There was a big issue with restoring electricity because of the frozen tree branches grounding out power lines. Westar energy hired a professional tree trimming contractor to remove trees from power lines, so that their crews could get in and restore power to residential areas. Gina Penzig, a Westar spokeswoman said, Westar clears trees from the areas near power lines to maintain safe and reliable electrical service to its customers (Hrenchir). Of course, residents were all for electricity being restored; but according to councilman John Alcala, property owners complained about what they considered to be the irresponsible pruning of trees by Wright Tree Service – Westar’s contracted service. (Hrenchir) City council members eventually approved a resolution that directed the cit...
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... digging up the ground and installing power lines would not only cost a lot of money, but according to Richard C. Ready, there was also potential risk from careless digging. Another problem with underground lines was repairing any issues that may occur. If there was an underground explosion it would be difficult to locate exactly where the explosion occurred. So in conclusion, the pruning and removal is the cheapest and easiest way to avoid power outages. This is evident due to re-installing lines underground would be less cost-effective than the entire process of repairs, tree removal, and upkeep of the existing power lines.
Works Cited
Hrenchir Tim, "City hopes to cut tree trimming deal." Cjonline. The Topeka Capital Journal. 2013. Web. 8 Nov, 2013.
Kaste Martin, "If power lines fall, why don't they go underground?" NPR. NP. February 1, 2012. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
“Squirrel Power!” by Jon Mooallem, gives an inside look at the many outages caused by squirrels running along the power lines. Mooallem uses credible sources to highlight the amount of times a squirrel has caused a power outage and why the incidents are common to begin with. Mooallem wants the reader to know that squirrels are acting on natural instincts in a world filled with wires providing electricity for people.
...ulb. Due to the demand for the electric light bulb, electric supply lines came to quickly satisfy this demand. "Before it had any significant effect on industry, electricity gave the city its quickening tempo, lifting elevators, powering streetcars and subway trains, turning night into day: (Henretta, 2009).
Nearly 100 Kansans froze to death during the storm. Neither were the settlers prepared to protect their livestock. Cattle turned their tails to the wind and "drifted" for miles across the open range until they dropped from hunger or exhaustion. Losses were high, up to 75% in some areas, and consequently some large western Kansas cattle companies were bankrupted. Business and rail traffic were paralyzed for weeks. The force of eleven Union Pacific locomotives was unable to "buck" through and cut in the snow near ...
In July, 2004 Doyle had called for a legislation to prevent massive power blackouts like the one that hit the northeast this past year. In August 14, 2003, a massive power outage affected more than 50 million people in eight different stats, Ontario, and Quebec in Canada. Many households were without power for several days. This blackout began in Ohio, where three transmission lines short-circuited. An investigation found that the energy company that owned those power lines was in violation of at least four North Electric Reliability Council operating standards. Doyle introduced almost a year ago a legislation that would establish a national Electric Reliability Organization to enforce power reliability standards across the country. If an organization was to be established it
In August 2002, President Bush launched his revolutionary campaign against wildfires known as the Healthy Forest Initiative (HFI). The President’s dynamic plan centers on preventing massive forest fires by thinning the dense undergrowth and brush commonly seen in our national forests. The thinning will occur in priority areas that are in close proximity to homes and watersheds. The Healthy Forest Initiative also aims at developing a more efficient response method to disease and insect infestations that sabotage our forests. Finally, if fully enacted, the Healthy Forest Initiative would provide the loggers with what is known as “goods for services”. This will compensate the loggers for the financial burden that will surface as a result of this aggressive thinning (http://www.sierraclub. org/forests /fires/healthyforests initiative.asp). In order to promote the progress of his Healthy Forest Initiative, in 2003 President Bush announced the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. This act took the main issues discussed in the Healthy Forest Initiative a step further. Bush plans to make a collaborative effort with federal, state, tribal, and local officials to protect our woodlands against future infernos. The act also calls for more public participation in reviewing any actions taken in lieu of the Healthy Forest Initiative. Furthermore, Bush wants to restore the land that has already been destroyed by wildfires and help to recover the threatened and endangered species that were affected by the fires (http://www.
President Bush, George. "Healthy Forest: An Initiative for Wildfire Prevention and Stronger Communities." 22 Aug. 2002. Viewed 2 Nov. 2002.<http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthyforests/Healthy_Forests_v2.pdf>.
Tracy, Ryan, and Dan Fitzpatrick. "J.P. Morgan Settles Electricity-Market Case." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 30 July 2013. Web.
middle of paper ... ... The downtime, unfortunately, was more than we planned. But unlike other sectors, the electrical grid is a more complex system when one area is affected. It often requires isolation of systems to get the components back on line and at full operational range before restoration commences.
The importance of an electrical lineman is huge, not only in the community but also in most of the world. Their education, training, and correct use of equipment help them in their different and dangerous work conditions to accomplish the tasks of providing power to their communities.
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The electric use will not give off pollution that is unhealthy for the environment and its
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On the second article,"Dig Deeper" it explains what arborists do we when a tree is about to