Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Jerry_Williams69 t1_j3uzfis wrote

Reply to comment by Existing-Bat5810 in Why doesn’t Vermont bury its power lines? by tcchen

In other regions, that is not true. Horizontal auger rigs can do some amazing stuff in clay and sand. In the NE, we have "ledge" and boulders to go through. Really hard to do.

59

Mic4h t1_j3vfocr wrote

We directional bore in NE, and even install power lines via this method in CT.

And yes, ledge.

And yes, expensive.

And underground would still be installed and maintained by lineman. And when it goes wrong, it’s a bigger process.

41

Sad_Cabinet_6349 t1_j3w33dw wrote

I used to plant trees for a living, and I used to always proclaim, "Welcome to Vermont, home of the world's rockiest soil!"

20

EverythingKindaSuckz t1_j3wa45z wrote

I love how I have been gardening in the same spot for years and still pull giant ass rocks out of the soil I till yearly.

12

Valgrindar t1_j3w76uv wrote

This wasn't in VT, but on a hike up Mt. Garfield a few years ago I passed a guy who said to me, out of the blue, "whoever said 'leave no stone unturned' never visited New Hampshire"

11

Eagle_Arm t1_j3wlybn wrote

You turned their correct three-word answer...into a four sentence paragraph saying the same thing.

5

-_Stove_- t1_j3wa81n wrote

Where are these regions in which underground utlities are not incredibly expensive? With, y'know, actual numbers to back your statement up.

3

Jerry_Williams69 t1_j3wojyl wrote

I'm originally from the Midwest. It is not uncommon for there to be no above ground power lines in newer communities there. In the Midwest, urban sprawl is lead by horizontal drilling operations. The lines are in the ground before houses, businesses, schools, etc. are laid out. If it were cost prohibitive in the region, the stingy politicians would squash it.

The Midwest might have billboards, but it does not have huge bundles of above ground power lines like the NE does (except in the older parts). The reason I've heard again and again is that the NE's abundant ledge makes it really hard to run long horizontal drilling operations. You can translate that to expensive if you want. I'm sure it could be done with enough time and funding.

1

-_Stove_- t1_j3xix1t wrote

"Where it's flat, it's easy to go sideways!" no sh*t.

2

Jerry_Williams69 t1_j3xjjuc wrote

Lol you are not following and are really worked up over this!

0

-_Stove_- t1_j3xjqfo wrote

I don't think you understand that the mountains are here before the development. I realize that the do it the other way in the midwest, but here ain't there.

1

Jerry_Williams69 t1_j3xk40s wrote

That's exactly what I am saying! Calm down and read through the thread again.

1

AnyRound5042 t1_j3yn9j5 wrote

"where do they bury power lines"
"we bury power lines in the midwest because its flat"
"no shit you can bury power lines in the midwest because its flat"
what the fuck is that guy mad about lol

5