Power Outages and Connecticut's Trees: Feb. 28 Citizen Forum
The Fairfield Forestry Committee and Fairfield League of Women Voters, along with nine other southern Fairfield County chapters of the League of Women Voters and tree-focused groups, will sponsor an educational forum “Power Struggle: Balancing the Needs of People, Power and Trees” on Tuesday, February 28 from 7:00-9:00 PM at the Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road (snow date March 7).
The forum will consist of talks by five stakeholders representatives including the following: CL&P, the Governor’s Two-Storm Panel, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association and a representative from the Concord, Mass. Municipal Light Plant, a municipality that has buried their power wires underground; all of whom will address from their perspectives this all -- important issue of powers outages, past and future, and what can be done to reduce their frequency and duration. A Q&A will follow their presentations.
The goal of this timely forum is to inform Connecticut residents on all aspects of this continuing problem that so profoundly affects us. The Connecticut General Assembly legislative session opened on Feb. 8 and will be taking up legislation designed to address the reliability of our power supply. Residents will gain information and insight so that they can form educated opinions on the proposed solutions.
Handouts will be available at the forum including contact information of state officials so the attendees, armed with accurate information, can voice their opinions and suggestions based on what they learned at the forum.
This forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, and Stamford, and Greenwich Tree Conservancy, Fairfield Forestry Committee, Stamford Tree Foundation and the Tree Conservancy of Darien.
We encourage all to attend so they can learn and influence the proposed solutions to these power outages.
For more information, contact Mary Hogue: maryhogue@optonline.net.
Maureen Graney
9:59 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Are tree-lined streets, forested neighborhoods, and lush open spaces among the reasons you love living in Connecticut? If so, keep informed and "like" the Fairfield Forestry Committee on Facebook. There's information for concerned homeowners, gardeners, hikers, birders, educators, scientists, citizen scientists, potential volunteers, and everyone who has been awed by a majestic tree.
Luca Duff Cruz
1:35 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
what if I love trees, but also am pragmatic, and realize that removing a few trees, to ensure safety and less electrical interuptions, dont have to be mutually exclusive?
Hopefully the fairfield forestry committee recognizes that some trees should go and are planning to ONLY fight the removal of those trees that appear to be beyond the scope of reason
Mary Hogue
10:13 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
The panel for the forum consists of *Joseph McGee, Co-Chair of Two-Storm Panel Committee and Vice President, Public Policy & Programs at Business Council of Fairfield County, CT; *Jonathan Schrag, Deputy Commissioner for Energy, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP); *Ken
Vice President of Energy Delivery Services, Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P); *Eric Hammerling, Executive Director, Connecticut Forest & Park Association; and *Christopher R. Roy, Engineering & Operations Manager, Concord Municipal Light Plant. Having these groups and high-level representatives ensures this event to be a great discussion on the issues related to past power outages and plans to prevent them in the future.
Chuck E. Arla
10:44 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Clearly all new developments will need to feature underground lines. As trees are removed over time in existing areas of overhead power/utility lines we need to insist that only shrubbery replace trees on the side of the street with utility poles.
Mosley
3:28 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
By my math, putting power lines underground will cost about $10k per household. That's using average national costs of $1 million per mile. But that might not hold in Fairfield County where some towns have very rocky soil, and thus will cost even more. But for a moment, assuming a cost of $10k per household, does it make more sense for homeowners to simply get a generator for $1500 all in?
Maureen Graney
4:50 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Chuck, Luca, and Mosely: I am so glad to see this level of discussion. Resolving these issues will require thoughtful planning on so many levels. We're partnering with the esteemed and unbiased League of Women Voters to bring different perspectives together so we can all leave the session with greater understanding. Listening to all sides is the first step toward making the best recommendations. We hope you can attend on Feb. 28.
Hope
4:53 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
As a former utility worker, I have seen underground lines "go bad". Please ask the important question before investing. Can water leaks and animals create havoc?
Leslie Yager
5:43 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Great points, Hope! I covered a Nov. '11 Greenwich public forum on burying power lines – pros and cons of burying lines, cost estimates included. Passions ran high!
http://greenwich.patch.com/articles/bury-the-power-lines-in-greenwich