Rights of Way

Whether we're surfing the Net, micro waving popcorn, or watching TV, we pretty much take electricity for granted. But in order to get electricity from power plants to people like us, it has to travel over what are called "transmission lines." I'm sure you've seen them around. Well, have you ever noticed that the path they follow is usually kept pretty neat and tidy? That, my friend, is no accident! These pathways-or "rights of way"-are an important part of getting power to us, and an important part of the environment. Maintenance crews keep these rights of way clear so they can get to the lines and towers to perform their normal maintenance activities. It's also important to keep rights of way free of tall-growing trees because they can grow tall enough to touch the lines and possibly cause a power outage. One way workers keep rights of way clear is by removing invasive species like Garlic Mustard. Garlic Mustard tends to take over an area and grow out of control. Replacing it with plants that are native to Wisconsin helps the power lines stay clear, and improves the habitat for local wildlife. So the next time you see power lines, check out the land beneath them and smile!