San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)–a unit of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE)–has received approval to move forward with construction of the approximately $1.9 billion, 120-mile Sunrise Powerlink transmission line from the Department of Agriculture’s United States Forest Service (USFS).
The new power line will transport renewable energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal power, from remote areas in southern California’s Imperial Valley to residences and businesses in the San Diego region.
After an environmental review, the USFS issued a Record of Decision approving the construction, operation and maintenance of a 19-mile segment of the transmission line through the Cleveland National Forest (CNF).
The decision adds to prior project approvals from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in late 2008 and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management in early 2009.
“California has two dozen renewable energy projects looking to break ground this year alone that will create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment in our state. But, many of these projects will be built in remote locations in the desert, and we need more transmission lines, like the Sunrise Powerlink, to transport this renewable energy to population centers,” said Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When completed in 2012, the 500-kilovolt Sunrise Powerlink electric “superhighway” will have the capacity to carry at least 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power, or enough energy for 650,000 homes. The project is expected to create 400 to 500 direct construction jobs and provide more than $100 million in annual energy savings.
The environmental review process has led to several modifications that are meant to reduce the environmental impacts of the project, including preserving sensitive resources within CNF. However, SDG&E said it recognizes there is opposition to the project and pending legal challenges.
SDG&E is currently working with the CPUC to finalize Notices to Proceed on non-transmission related construction activities taking place on private lands, including system upgrades, construction yards and field offices. These non-transmission construction activities are expected to begin later this summer, while construction of the transmission line is expected to start this fall.
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