Gov. Jerry Brown joined former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and federal, state and local officials today to dedicate the Sunrise Powerlink at the Suncrest substation in Alpine, as opponents of the new transmission line staged a protest nearby.
• June 26, 2012: Governor Brown, Schwarzenegger Dedicate Sunrise Powerlink Amidst Protests
• June 25, 2012: Lakeside Property Owner, Business Partner Are Awarded $8 million In Compensation
• June 17, 2012: Sunrise Powerlink Put Into Service Today
• June 14, 2012: SDG&E Says Enough Power Lined Up For Summer Because Of Sunrise Powerlink
• June 4, 2012: Crews Place Last Transmission Tower On the Sunrise Powerlink
• April 20, 2012: Crews Complete Suncrest Substation Facility
• April 18, 2012: Regulators Threaten To Shut Down Sunrise Powerlink Project Amid Safety Concerns
• February 15, 2012: Regulators Ask SDG&E To Take Corrective Steps On Golden Eagle Nesting Zones
• February 7, 2012: SD Supervisor Wants SDG&E Held Accountable On Eagle No Fly Zone Incursions
• October 3, 2011: California Public Utilities Commission Approves SDG&E To Resume Helicopters On Transmission Line
• September 27, 2011: Regulators Issue Stop-Work Order Against SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink Project
• June 10, 2011: SDG&E’s Sun Bird Helicopter Has Second Accident In A Week
• May 25, 2011: SDG&E Uses About 300,000 Gallons A Day Of Drinking Water On Project
• March 2011: Sunrise Powerlink Helicopter Pilot Violates No-Fly Zone
• January 2011: Opponents Suing Sunrise Powerlink Project To Stop Construction
• December 2010: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Launches Official Start of Construction On The Transmission Line
• November 2010: Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Wanting To Stop Construction of Powerlink
• September 2010: Construction Starts On Sunrise Powerlink
• August 2010: SDG&E Buys Sun Bird
• June 2010: Department of Agriculture Approves Construction On Segment of Cleveland National Forest
• September 2006: State Regulators Deem SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink Application Complete
• August 2006: SDG&E Files An Updated Application And Environmental Assessment Of The Project
• March 2006: SDG&E Announces Route Options For The Sunrise Powerlink
• February 2006: SDG&E Announces Third Phase of Community Meetings
• November 2005 SDG&E Submits Initial Filing With California Public Utilities Commission
• September 2005: SDG&E Begins Outreach Program, Community Meetings
• August 2005: SDG&E Unveils Plan To Build New Power Link From San Diego To Imperial Valley
By Diana Crofts-Pelayo
The 117-mile line, which connects San Diego with the Imperial Valley, was put into service June 17 after a five-year environmental review and permitting process and 18 months of construction of the overhead and underground technology, according to SDG&E.
"The Sunrise Powerlink is an extraordinarily sophisticated technology that will bring solar and wind energy from the Imperial Valley to San Diego,'' the governor said. "Most immediately, it will help keep the lights on during this year's hot summer with the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant offline.''
"It's a major step forward," he added. "And thank God that we have this transmission line with the San Onofre out of commission. We need multiple sources of energy. We need lines of transmission. And yes, it takes a lot of obstacles to get there."
Opponents of the $1.9 billion project cited concerns about property values, views and safety. Protesters from several groups, including the Protect Our Communities Foundation, gathered before the dedication alongside Interstate 8 at Japatul Valley Road to demonstrate.
"The energy could be done in the city," said Donna Tisdale, of Protect Our Communities Foundation. "That's where it needs to be done. Where its being used. Not destroying the back country."
Tisdale fought the project every step of the way and now she's focusing on fighting the green energy projects that are expected to follow. The Wind and Solar farms being built will bring renewable power into the region, but at a cost.
Back-county residents contended the transmission lines were out character with their rural community and could create health and fire hazards.
County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who has long opposed the transmission line, released a statement following the dedication, stating the project's environmental documents concluded the fire dangers posed by the line were classified as the highest level possible and could not be mitigated.
"The line traverses some of the most fire-prone terrain in the world.
It will impede firefighting efforts in from the air because firefighters cannot make water drops on energized lines,'' Jacob said.
SDG&E officials said the transmission line will enhance reliability and facilitate renewable energy development in the region. Sunrise Powerlink will deliver a significant amount of power from developing solar and wind farms in Imperial County, enabling a 33 percent increase in the amount of renewable energy it delivers by 2020, a key state environmental initiative, according to the utility.
"In addition to bolstering regional electric reliability, the Sunrise Powerlink will help SDG&E meet Governor Brown's and our state's aggressive renewable energy goals,'' said Debra L. Reed, chief executive officer of Sempra Energy. "The line will enable the development of new solar and wind projects in the Imperial Valley and eastern San Diego to supply our customers.''
The line will initially bring 800 megawatts of imported power into San Diego and eventually carry 1,000 megawatts of power, enough energy to serve 650,000 homes, according to SDG&E.
