(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Some hard-working goats got to be tourists on Wednesday, soaking up the sun and the views while boating along the Chicago River.
"I just rode across [with them], and they loved it!" said Tom Ringhofer, manager of ComEd's Transmission Vegetation Management.
The boat ride marks the end of summer break before a group of 200 goats get back to work for the local power company, keeping brush from interfering with electrical equipment.
"They'll be working out in Matthiessen State Park out by Starved Rock and under our transmission lines," Ringhofer explained. "There's steep ravines, and they'll be out there clearing brush under the ravines for four weeks."
Ringhofer tells WBBM Newsradio the vegetation management program, which started in 2019, is an eco-friendly solution that cuts the cost and time required to clear vegetation and reduces safety risks to workers.
Without the goats, the brush could get too high and cause a massive outage.
"Several thousand [customers' power] would go out if the transmission line went out," Ringhofer said.
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