Underground transmission in the United States

The means for providing underground transmission of large quantities of electric power at a reduction in present-day cost by at least an order of magnitude ranks among the high imperatives of today's research efforts. Demand for the expansion of ``undergrounding'' is soundly based upon such factors as the rapid growth of cities, the doubling of power requirements with every passing decade, and esthetic objections to the appearance of overhead lines. Unfortunately, at the present time, such expansion is possible only at excessive cost. The authors present the problem as it exists within the United States, and offer solutions that are commensurate with the state of the art.