Outdoors: Wired Trees!

I have noticed of late as I drive around certain areas of our beautiful county, the National Grid is in the process of replacing utility poles with utility poles. An example of this activity can be seen along Old Schuylerville Road. If you look hard at the work being done, you will or should come to the conclusion that an old pole that seems to be perfectly good at what it is doing is being replaced by a new pole that will do the same job in exactly the same way. The only differences that I could see is that the new poles are longer and a bit prettier, nice color.

I don't know which, the length or the color, is the primary reason that the old is being replaced with the new. However, the process is what got me thinking. If the old poles needed to be replaced for any reason, why isn't the opportunity seized to place all the lines being supported by these poles underground?

To me, the ugliest blight that we have in our communities is the sight of all these electric power, telephone and cable wires strung up from chemical-impregnated trees stuck in the ground every hundred feet or so. These poles were once trees and if we want to be a "green" community (see, I told you I would pull it in) then why don't we save our environment and place all utilities underground? Oh sure, I know it would cost a lot of money, but think of all the money spent and how put out we are each and every time we have an ice or wind storm or a pole is hit by a vehicle out of control.

I drove by one of these work sites the other day. There were three huge trucks with all kinds of gear piled on plus a couple of pickup trucks adding to the appearance that something was being done, and at least a dozen men standing around. The only one working was the guy waving a flag to let the civilians know it was safe to drive by all of these parked utility vehicles. Somebody please place a price tag on that for me and then tell me it cost money to place these lines underground.

Appearance is one thing and for those of you who live in an area where everything is already underground and you snub your nose at the rest of us poor folk, remember that the power lines coming to you from way off in never - never electric land are above ground and you are wondering why you are sitting in the dark wrapped in a blanket thinking "how did this happen?"

I would love to see some of our local city councils and town boards develop a plan that says three things. One, all new construction and development must be serviced by underground utilities. Two, all repair or replacement work on utilities must include placing all services underground. And three, all utility companies must submit a plan to have all existing utility services placed underground within the next ten years.

Sure, I know this isn't going to happen. None of our local governments have the courage to tackle this issue, plus it requires long-term planning and our local leaders have a problem with any issue that exceeds their elected term in office. Long-term planning and cost savings in place of instant gratification? Am I nuts or what???

But just think about how our local outdoors would look with no ugly wires and no poles. And think about all the trees we would save.

Go Green!

See you outdoors!