Vanessa Fuentes, along with fellow policymaker Ryan Alter, are looking to take a proactive approach to the region’s severe winter weather impact on Austin’s energy issues. The Austin City Council has proposed taking the power lines underground.
AUSTIN, Texas — Disruptive storms in the past have exposed the vulnerability of power lines in the city of Austin. The 2023 ice storm, from Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, paralyzed many cities for days as ice-coated trees and power lines led to widespread power outages and massive tree damage. The Austin City Council has proposed taking the power lines underground.
“Particularly, we’re focused on a pilot project to gain that feasibility, the cost associated, but also weighing the value of going underground,” Fuentes said. Austin Energy spokesperson Matt Mitchell says it will take “many months” for the provider to determine the feasibility of the proposal which includes factors like expense, topography and location.
Dr. Ross Baldick, an engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin, believes the city is right to be forward thinking regarding this issue. Ultimately, like many conversations regarding areas of improvement across the city, it will come down to “cost-benefit,” long term.
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