Sunday, August 2, 2009 | Why can’t SDG&E begin to underground their power lines? This would avoid damage to their lines in high winds during fire danger seasons. That would solve most of the problems that seem in opposition to each other. We see in today’s commente that this is already being done in Los Angeles County.
On the one hand, it seems that people who have chosen to live in rural areas that are sparsly populated have also chosen to live more independently, more self-sufficiently, without crowding, traffic and housing density. Let them provide their own emergency power generators. Let the County stop doling out permits for developers to build in the rural areas that create density and generate profits for developers, but incur more expense for State and County. The County and Cal Fire cannot continue to protect everyone who choses to live in a rural area,or who is not equipped to live independently and self-sufficiently.
I think SDG&E should work to underground lines, push the County to prevent any more urban -leapfrog sprawl and begin a gradual program of cutting power in high winds during high fire danger, to prevent fires from downed lines. The problem has many facets and there is more responsibility required on all sides – citizens in rural, as well aurban areas, developers, the County and SDG&E.