This is "Winning?"

[HiloJulie]

The "winning" just continues!

Fire prevention project halted in Waikōloa Village by Trump Administration : Big Island Now

[Durian Fiend]

The "winning" just continues!

Fire prevention project halted in Waikōloa Village by Trump Administration : Big Island Now

"..Yuhnke said cutting the trees would be only a temporary fire mitigation solution. The goal is for Hawaiian Electric to put the lines underground.

“We think this area is a prime candidate for that treatment so the lines are no longer capable of snapping in the wind,” he said.
Chalker agreed; however, he was informed that the cost to bury the lines would be about $11 million per mile..."

Wow!  I don't see that happening anytime soon. 

[HiloJulie]

Yuhnke said cutting the trees would be only a temporary fire mitigation solution.

The goal is for Hawaiian Electric to put the lines underground.“We think this area is a prime candidate for that treatment so the lines are no longer capable of snapping in the wind,” he said.Chalker agreed; however, he was informed that the cost to bury the lines would be about $11 million per mile..."[/font][/size][/color]

Wow!  I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Well, you're probably right on that.

But then, a simple cost/benefit analysis would say that since the Maui fires have cost/impacted Hawaii around 11 BLLION to date, plus 102 people dead, one would assume that we could bury a hell of a lot of miles of electrical cable with zero fires and zero dead humans.

It just boils down to WHO is paying for either of the actual/desired outcomes. 

As well as what an acceptable level of human death is for being financially stupid.

[leilanidude]

The "AI Overview" shows how difficult this is.

To bury high voltage lines underground, specialized cables with thick layers of insulation need to be installed within trenches or concrete ducts, requiring significant excavation and construction to accommodate the large size of the cables, while also managing heat dissipation issues due to the lack of air circulation underground; this process is usually only undertaken in densely populated areas due to the high cost and disruption involved compared to overhead lines.
Key points about burying high voltage lines:

Heavy insulation:
Unlike overhead lines that use air as insulation, underground cables require robust insulating materials to handle the high voltage, often including multiple layers of specialized materials wrapped around the conductors.

Duct banks:
To protect the cables and facilitate maintenance, they are typically installed within concrete ducts or conduits, creating a "duct bank" system.
Trenching:
Large trenches need to be dug to accommodate the cables and duct banks, which can be disruptive to the surrounding environment.
Heat management:
Because underground cables cannot dissipate heat as easily as overhead lines, cable design must consider heat management strategies to prevent overheating.
Access points:
Regular access points like concrete vaults are needed along the cable route to allow for maintenance and repairs in case of damage.

Factors to consider before burying high voltage lines:

Cost:
Undergrounding is significantly more expensive than overhead lines due to the complex installation process and specialized equipment required.

Land disruption:
Extensive excavation can disrupt landscapes and potentially damage existing infrastructure.
Environmental impact:
Depending on the location, undergrounding could have environmental impacts on sensitive habitats.
Local regulations:
Permits and approvals from local authorities are usually needed to undertake undergrounding projects

[HiloJulie]

So then, since the Maui fires have cost/impacted Hawaii around 11 BLLION to date, plus 102 people dead that is still a cheaper and better option to doing something else that might be "hard."

I guess AI doesn't take that into account and has zero empathy for human death.

Yes, the "winning!"

[leilanidude]

Local regulations:
Permits and approvals from local authorities are usually needed to undertake undergrounding projects
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Archeological testing and discovery for possible ancient Hawaiian burials, etc., combined with EIS requirements would sink that for years.

[HiloJulie]

"Archeological testing and discovery for possible ancient Hawaiian burials, etc., combined with EIS requirements would sink that for years."

So, then do nothing different. Because it's "hard."

Maybe the next wildfire will cost 30 Billion and kill a few hundred more. 

But let's not change any of that, because its "hard."

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Archeological testing and discovery for possible ancient Hawaiian burials, etc., combined with EIS requirements would sink that for years.

Isn’t the area we’re talking about already in an area that HECO has installed power lines? That may have previously passed EIS, burials, etc? So conceivably would pass again without a problem? And is land owned by or already has easements in place?

[leilanidude]

Isn’t the area we’re talking about already in an area that HECO has installed power lines? That may have previously passed EIS, burials, etc? So conceivably would pass again without a problem? And is land owned by or already has easements in place?
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Yes, but that requirement didn't stop from needing one on the old "Red oad" to be done, again, even though 40-100 feet of lava could not possibly contain any new findings.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

that requirement didn't stop from needing one on the old "Red oad" to be done,

And they completed the study and are building the road, right? So it can be done?