Copper-based electricity

Copper Input blocks:

Crafted with an Observer surrounded with Copper Blocks. Takes in Redstone and puts it into Copper Wires.

Copper Wires:

Crafted with 2 string, 1 redstone dust, and 6 copper ingots.
It works pretty much like Redstone, but it can go in water and can hang in the air with no supporting blocks.
This can only be activated with the Input blocks and can only project Redstone energy with the Output blocks.

Copper Output blocks:

Crafted with a Comparator surrounded with Copper Blocks
Converts the energy from Copper Wires to Redstone power.

All of this would make for much more industrial-themed redstone.