Power Lines in the Wild
Amid the lush trees of the evergreen forest, fog rolls across the valley. The crisp smell of morning dew fills the air. The calming sense rushes through your body as you venture up the trail. Then, all of a sudden, your trace is broken by the sound of a faint hum in the distance. As the trees break, you stumble upon giant power lines humming overhead routed through a clear-cut swath of trees. What…not what you envisioned?
Unfortunately, that’s the reality for the west coast these days. Electrical power lines in the Pacific Northwest’s Taiga forests of Taiga are a major source of affordable renewable hydropower. Large metropolitan cities drink up the juice supplied by the electrical transmission lines.
The map below shows the significant impact of these transmission lines on the landscape.
Transmission Lines on the West Coast
Washington, Oregon, and California face this economic reality. As afternoons get hot and air conditioning loads skyrocket, renewables can’t make up the vast power demand. Meanwhile, as demand increases, energy providers continue to evolve and adapt to meet consumer needs.
The electrical utility industry invests billions ensuring our homes remain cool and comfortable as outside temperatures swelter. Climate change further compounds the issue as temperatures rise and reservoirs that store water for power generation dry out. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were 47,057 wildfires this year between January and October. Nearly 6.5 million acres burned.
Protect Forests & Safeguard Electrical Power Flow
So, how do utility companies protect our forests while maintaining electrical power flow? Each year, electric utilities spend millions cutting back the brush and trees along power line corridors. This process ensures that flammable materials don’t touch the electrical cables and start fires. For instance, brush cutters can drive transmission lines with chainsaws. Alternatively, they may employ more elaborate specialty equipment, such as helicopters with giant flying circular saws attached to cables, as seen in this YouTube video:
Beyond tree trimming there are other subsequent measures to preventing forest fires. Utilities install automatic protective equipment to ensure power is removed immediately in the event that anything does touch these transmission lines.
Types of Protective Equipment
- Protective Relays are automatic transmission line equipment that protect peoples and objects from the energized power lines.
- Relays sense the normal flow of electric power. They measure the current, voltage, and frequency of the 60 Hertz sinusoidal waveform, and look for changes.
- Circuit Breakers when directed by a relay, trip to interrupt or “break” the flow of power on the transmission line.
- Reclosers are automatic timers that direct the circuit breaker to then “reclose” or re-establish the flow of power over the transmission lines.
Recent reports have criticized certain California-based investor-owned utilities for their spending (or lack thereof) on tree trimming. Authorities traced a devastating wildfire to the company, due to poorly maintained transmission and distribution equipment. In this case, the courts found the company criminally negligent, resulting in multiple felonies. According to numerous articles, such as, the local San Jose Mercury News, this utility decided to “adjust” its protective relay settings.
However, whether the adjustments made to the protective relays will reduce fire risks remains to be seen. That said, the solution remains preferable to the current method of preventing wildfires, which is to shut down the power altogether.
Recent history reveals that electricity costs continue to rise while reliability is declining. Furthermore, renewable energy complicates the protective relay’s job, making it harder to safeguard equipment and people.
So, when you see power lines cutting through a forest, spare a thought for modern technology and infrastructure that make electricity possible. Demand that your utility supplier do their absolute best to provide the lowest cost, safest, and most reliable flow of power you can get.
Want to learn more about your electric power cost, safety, and reliability?
APT can help. With over two decades of experience in critical power, APT delivers custom built solutions designed to reduce costs, maximize reliability, and keep you safe. Take charge of your energy by contacting an APT professional today.
Andy Taylor PE, APT Chief Executive Officer