Something Has To Change

Did you know that the United States’ electrical grid was not built to face today’s climate? In the past two decades, extreme weather events have accounted for 80% of power outages in the United States, leaving our system on the brink of failure. Even more alarming, standards and practices to prevent such damage to our electrical grid are readily available, yet we continue to utilize materials that are not built to withstand the elements of weather.

This can especially be seen in Florida, where extreme weather events have had life-threatening effects. Currently, the state’s largest electric utilities, Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light, engage in vegetation management and pole inspections on a combined 20,000 miles of distribution poles, but more can be done. To further strengthen the grid, Florida should continue using materials, such as concrete, that are designed to withstand the elements and loads required by the most up-to-date standards and practices.