Sullivan’s Island plans to bury power lines in residents’ hopes of saving trees

SULLIVAN ISLAND, SC (WCIV) — Underground power lines are one of the only solutions to prevent Dominion Energy’s regular tree trimming, which disturbs neighbors every five years.

The Town of Sullivan’s Island is taking steps to consider this. The mayor and city council asked Dominion Energy to make a detailed presentation Tuesday evening on what it would take to complete this project.

If city leaders decide to move forward, they will have a choice between burying all the lines on the island or starting with the most vulnerable areas.

“It’s not something you do overnight, it’s not something you rush into. The presentation informed us that renovating the island could cost up to $60 million or more,” said Mayor Patrick O’Neil.

READ MORE: “Dominion Energy tree pruning sparks debate over safety, aesthetics.”

The mayor said he and council members have heard residents’ concerns about Dominion’s new plan to cut down more than 500 palm trees.

For many neighbors, their hopes of saving the trees extend far beyond the simple beauty of the island.

“We sit here on a barrier island on the front lines of climate change. We are facing rising sea levels and more frequent and severe storms,” said Karen Byko. “These trees are powerful rainwater pumps. A mature tree can absorb up to 40,000 gallons per year.

The topic of strong storms is part of the debate between overhead lines and underground lines. But Dominion officials say none of these solutions are foolproof.

READ MORE: “Signs from 8-year-old could change future of tree felling on Sullivan Island.”

“While you may remove the risk of a wind event, you increase the risk of, say, a severe flood,” said Paul Fischer, a spokesman for Dominion Energy.

Fischer warns that the type of flooding the island experiences during storms could damage underground systems and equipment. He said repairing these lines typically takes longer than repairing overhead systems.

The City’s next steps include determining the scope of the proposed project, followed by a possible technical study.

City leaders should then focus on securing the necessary funding.