Several years ago, Niagara Mohawk had an exhibit building at the Erie County Fair (Hamburg NY). On display were various types and sizes of high tension insulators. The guide explained high voltage power transmission-- generalizing, of course. He did mention the set of 450kV lines that run the length of New York State are the highest voltage lines in use in North America (circa mid-1990's). He did say that NiMo built an experimental 900kV line near Syracuse NY, but the line was never energized, not even as a test. I want to know why? Was the whole thing just impractical because the 450kV lines are doing a fine job? Or did they fear something Tesla-onian might happen at such a hyper-voltage? E-mail inquiries to NiMo have gone unanswered.
