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Superconducting Power Grid Launches In New York

Posted by Soulskill on from the so-i-rewired-it dept.

EmagGeek writes "IEEE is running a story about a new superconducting power grid that was energized in April in New York State. The lines operate at 138kV and are cooled to 65-75K to maintain superconductivity. These lines are run underground and can carry 150 times more electricity than copper lines of the same cross section. The project is funded with taxpayer dollars through the Department of Energy." A related story at MarketWatch indicates that this is part of a large-scale effort to upgrade aging infrastructure.

2 of 264 comments (clear)

  1. SDI anybody? by Iloinen+Lohikrme · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Has anybody thought that this project might be, at least partly, about building SDI defense to cities? If you want to take ballistic missiles with laser then that laser needs enormous amounts of energy. Having an superconducting power grid would allow routing of the needed energy to the laser system... and hey, if this world would be a game of Civilization, New York along with Washington, would be the first places to have the SDI defense city improvement :)

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  2. Re:I'd contribute funds to that... by stevedcc · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Thankfully, I'm not. Although, the affect of your politics on all of us non-Americans, when we don't get to vote... rather frustrating.

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    todo - The developer's equivalent of confession: "Forgive me Father, for I have sinned..."