NPR - Urban trees Radio show

[jerseygirl]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93944587

interesting

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Thanks for the link. My oldest buddy from college called to tell me about the show. I was going to have to find the webcast but here it is! Thanks!

 

[altissimus]

Today was the day after a storm ... too windy to climb...was home , heard entire piece... I still think more service in densely poulated areas should be UNDER the ground!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

A numbr of years ago I read a research paper in the Journal of ARb about the maintenance costs of utility lines.

There were many cost comparisons. The cheapest installation was in suburban areas where there was brand new development. The wires went underground with the other utilities. The most costly was retro burial in existing neighborhoods.

Then, the maintenance costs and reliability of above/under were compared. On both counts above was much better. There were many things going on underground that lead to out of service time. Then, when it was time for repairs they took MUCH longer and cost lots more.

I sure wish that I could site chapter and verse, but I can't Sorry...

The NPR article was one of the best that I've ever heard about tree care. All of the parties had very good presentations. Utility delivery is a complex system. Lots of parties with very different issues at stake.

 

[JJackson]

As long as you're willing to pay for it the utilities will put the lines under ground, but I have heard nothing but complaints about rates. The other thing to realize about under ground is that because its burried its not accesible without a lot of digging. To install it you need to trench, as I don't think most utilities (customers) could afford to bore next to every tree. At least here in AZ a large percentage of new contruction (usually in new developments) has to be under ground, so we're moving that direction, but over head lines will exist for a long time. Now if we could just stop the dig ins when landscapers go to plant trees, that would be great.

I work for the utility that is cooperating with the city of Phoenix to plant the right trees in the right places. In fact I believe the utility paid for the inventory of the trees for the city. I work in Norther AZ and do not have a lot to do what goes on in Phoenix but did have the crews I work with there late this winter and had the chance to work with a city forester that understood the need for proper trees around the utility lines. The utility and the city share resources to make removals and replacements work. In one case I was able to remove about a half a dozen date and mexican fan palms that had been planted under or just to the sides of a 21kV line, and the utility paid for the removal, the new trees and the planting of the new trees (wire friendly) all with no complaints from either sides. I think that is a better investment than trenching back yard for new lines and digging up under ground faults while destroying root systems of existing trees. I still feel strongly about educating the customer on proer tree selection and care. I have had great response from customers when you give them some pointers on planting new wire friendly trees.

Thanks Tom, I really enjoyed reading the article and I guess it made the rounds to the leaders higher up.