Delmarva Power Warns Loose Balloons Are A Potential Hazard On Our Power
Delmarva Power Warns Loose Balloons Are A Potential Hazard On Our Power
I have seen this first hand and its super inconveniencing.
A happy graduate releases their graduation balloons in the shape of the numbers of the year they graduate, everyone claps, and then BOOM.
The balloons hit a powerline or a transformer and the block is left without power for days, and those graduation memories become a sweaty mess with unhappy neighbors.
Delmarva Power is reminding customers not to let foil balloons put a damper on their celebrations.
According to Delmarva Power “Foil balloons have a metallic coated shell and when they contact an electric power line can cause significant damage, leading to power outages. From 2018-2022, more than 3,000 Delmarva Power customers experienced an outage due to a foil balloon contacting electric infrastructure. That caused approximately 3,150 hours customers spent without power, or 62 minutes per customer over the same time. Already in 2023, 50 Delmarva Power customers have experienced a power outage caused by balloons.”
To prevent these unnecessary power outages simply don’t release balloons and always keep celebratory balloons tied up or attached to weights.
When the party is over make sure to puncture your foil balloons and get all the helium out. A little bit of helium could cause the balloon to float away and cause an outage.
Delmarva Power also suggests moving away from balloons as the litter they cause can have an impact on the environment and wildlife around us. Find out more at preventballoonlitter.org.
If a balloon does get loose or tangled in a power line Delmarva Power says do not attempt to retrieve it. Always assume lines are energized and keep yourself, your belongings and anything you are touching at least 10 feet away at all times.
Delmarva Power Warns Loose Balloons Are A Potential Hazard On Our Power
Plant-Based BBQ: 5 Savory Meat Alternatives For The Grill
Grilled Veggies
The star of the show at a vegetarian BBQ is often the assortment of grilled vegetables. The vegetables are typically marinated or brushed with flavorful sauces or herbs before being cooked on the grill. A yummy veggie to throw on the grill would be zucchini with a drizzle of Italian seasonings, olive oil, and lemon juice. Another option would be grilled garlic mushrooms with a bit of garlic and balsamic vinegar or grilled cabbage with a tandoori marinade.
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Veggie Burgers
A vegetarian BBQ often features a variety of veggie burger options. These burgers can be made from ingredients like black beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, or even grilled portobello mushrooms. They are typically served on buns and topped with condiments, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and vegetarian-friendly sauces.
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Planted Based Sausages & Hot Dogs
To mimic the classic BBQ experience, plant-based sausages, and hot dogs are popular additions to a BBQ. These meatless alternatives are made from ingredients like soy, tofu, seitan, or vegetables and are grilled until they’re charred on the outside.
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Grilled Tofu & Tempeh
Tofu and tempeh are versatile plant-based protein sources. You can marinate and grill them at BBQs. Tofu can be marinated in a variety of sauces or spices to add flavor. While tempeh, a fermented soybean product, has a naturally nutty taste.
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Grilled Fruit Desserts
Fruits like pineapple, peaches, watermelon, and bananas are often grilled to bring out their natural sweetness and enhance their flavors. They can also be served as-is or paired with a scoop of vegan ice cream. A fruit that would go perfectly on the grill is pineapple. You can create a rum-glazed pineapple if you’re feeling ambitious. Just marinate your pineapple in dark spiced rum and brown sugar before putting it on the grill.
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