80 Year Old Utility Poles Pose Blackout Risk

By Douglas McIntyre  •  August 8, 2025

Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, warns that many U.S. wooden utility poles are up to 90 years old, posing serious risks during storms. Utilities lack the funds to replace them proactively, and burying lines underground would cost hundreds of billions. Beyond outages, snapped lines can spark wildfires in drought-stricken areas, escalating the danger.

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