Pacific Gas and Electric is turning to new technology as it works to bury hundreds of miles of power lines across California’s Sierra Nevada, a massive effort aimed at reducing wildfire risk and improving electrical reliability
The utility is using a new machine called the Bulldog Trencher to speed up undergrounding work in Placer County and other parts of the Sierra
PG&E says the machine can cut a narrow trench along roadways and install underground power lines more quickly than traditional construction methods
“This piece of equipment has done more than 1,000 feet today by cutting a pretty narrow trench road where we can put our power lines,” Matt Pender, PG&E’s vice <a href="https://todaytrendnews7.com/us-announces-new-sanctions-on-icc-president-and-top-lawyer/” title=”US announces new sanctions on ICC president and top lawyer”>president of undergrounding and system hardening, said on Tuesday
The machine is being used as PG&E works to underground more than 100 miles of power lines through the Sierra by the end of the year
The project is part of PG&E’s broader effort to move power lines underground in areas vulnerable to wildfires
PG&E says undergrounding can nearly eliminate the risk of equipment-caused wildfires and improve reliability during severe winter weather by removing overhead lines from exposure to wind, snow and other conditions
“This will be a different experience for customers,” Pender said. “They won’t have overhead power lines, so they don’t have to worry about that from a wildfire perspective, and they should see improved reliability.”
But undergrounding comes with a significant price tag
PG&E estimates the work costs about $3 million per mile, prompting the utility to look for ways to reduce construction costs and speed up the process
The company estimates the new trenching equipment could save as much as $40,000 per day
“There’s a lot of work happening here, and it will continue in the future,” Pender said
PG&E says the newly installed underground power lines are expected to last at least 60 years
