Bigger Harsher Powerlines Thru NJ! CANCER!

[doc1]

How are we going to power up our green n' clean Prius'?

Or increase electrified rail to increase mass transit options?

Maybe a few steady rolling brownouts, when the weather's at it's worst, will force us to make hard decisions regarding our energy infrastructure and not protest every viable solution.

[njkate]

I live in Jefferson..from that map it doesn't look all that bad...
sheesh If I have a 90 plus degree day with 100% humidity I want my freakin a/c to work...

[clevedark]

Well, at least the OP has discovered the cause of CANCER. Anyone have an extra Nobel prize handy?

[Marc Paolella]

I believe I read that the purpose of the higher towers is to keep EMF's equivalent to what they are now from the lower towers. So in theory, 750 Kv at 185 feet emits the same EMF's as 125kv at 125ft. Don't know if that's true, but that's what I read.

At that point, the higher towers do become an eyesoar, but what ya gonna do? In my experience, homes near power lines sell for 5-15% less than the same homes away from power lines. 15% if the tower is in your yard, 5% if the wires are not on top of you but just "there".

Ultimately we need the power, so it's just a sacrifice we have to make for the benefit of all. But people who hate them still have plenty of options. 95% of all homes have no visual exposure to power lines.

As far as the EMF's. The best approach is to study those who work for power companies. We have 50 years of history of humans being exposed to ungodly higher EMF's than any of us will ever remotely experience. The studies are all over the map, with some noting no effect while others note a possible effect. None categorically prove that there is a definite risk. None categorically prove that there is NO risk. So if that's the case with guys who hang near EMF's every day, I doubt there is much risk for those of us who just live near the towers.

But as I said, we need the towers. And even more than that we need nuclear power. If we were to depend on solar and wind at current levels of technology our monthly electrical bills would be $3,000. It's just not remotely doable at the present time.

[AndrewMensch]

The problem with this... and the economy... and Wall Street... and....

is that we all think about the next fiscal quarter, or the next year, and we have to start thinking about the next 10-20-30-50 years. We need a little of everything. Make fun of the Prius if you want, but if GM and others joined in years ago in this kind of venture, we'd be further along and would be saving more energy. Maybe GM would have been better off in the long run. But they and others are focused on IMMEDIATE RESULTS. This does make sense since this is how we are judged at work, and in the end, it is about us having money to feed our families. Corporations have to change this outlook, and so do the rest of us.

Instead, it is all about how much power I have TODAY... what the fiscal results are THIS QUARTER, with no vision for years down the road.

[dhanu86]

I think we should be looking for ways to be more environmental friendly which means using solar panels etc so there's no need for these new giant powerlines hanging over neighborhoods. On the otherhand they're as normal to me as trees. If 195 ft is even taller than the current ones then that could be an issue if they're viewable from street after street from people's upstair window.

[tallguylehigh]

Originally Posted by dhanu86

I think we should be looking for ways to be more environmental friendly which means using solar panels etc so there's no need for these new giant powerlines hanging over neighborhoods. On the otherhand they're as normal to me as trees. If 195 ft is even taller than the current ones then that could be an issue if they're viewable from street after street from people's upstair window.

That is a possibility in a mainly "horizontal" living environment (single family homes, etc.). But that isn't what these power lines are for. This electricity is for the more densly populated areas of eastern NJ and NYC. The solar panel looses a lot of luster when you have buildings with relatively small roof square footage in relation to their height. You could cover the roof of a 40 story NYC apartment with solar panels, but there is no way they are going to generate enough power for everyone underneath them.

[dhanu86]

Originally Posted by tallguylehigh

That is a possibility in a mainly "horizontal" living environment (single family homes, etc.). But that isn't what these power lines are for. This electricity is for the more densly populated areas of eastern NJ and NYC. The solar panel looses a lot of luster when you have buildings with relatively small roof square footage in relation to their height. You could cover the roof of a 40 story NYC apartment with solar panels, but there is no way they are going to generate enough power for everyone underneath them.

I see. The video link the OP shared said that in 2011 the current powerlines won't be good be enough, I guess because of population growth across the map.

[sligogirl]

My neighbor died of a rare pancreatic cancer, gone in less than one year.
He worked at a PSEG's power station 30+ years.
IMO there something to truly consider by not living near power lines, transfer stations.

[practicalposts]

Originally Posted by JohnZ963

This NIMBY crap gets unbelieveable. The electric company isn't doing this for the heck of it. With all of the development in northern NJ/NYC area over the years, the demand for power is greater than ever. Ok, so maybe NYC gets a lot of the benefit. Where do you expect them to put the lines to get power from PA to NY? Lines like these can't be put underground for many reasons. Sure, these towers are ugly. Nobody forces anyone to buy a house next to them. If you buy a house near a powerline easement, you should understand that the electric company may alter/expand the lines, trim the trees, etc.

Everyone loves cheap, plentiful electricity until their backyard view is involved. Rant over.

this is most logical post, when I was looking for house I passed couple of them because they had electric lines going behind the house, which are not ugly as of yet but I learned from township that the utility company has easement for 500-1000 feet and they may add as many lines they can accomodate without much legal issues.