Press Release
Contact: Carla Hass
(916) 554-3425
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2008
California Public Utilities Commission Approves Sunrise Powerlink
Three-year process culminates in support of "renewable" transmission line
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved the Sunrise Powerlink, a 120-mile, $1.9 billion transmission line that will be built in the San Diego region and increase the reliability of the state's power grid.
"Today's vote demonstrates California's commitment to clean, renewable energy," said Bill Keese, co-chair of Californians for Clean and Reliable Energy (Cal-CARE) and former Chairman of the California Energy Commission. "The CPUC realizes that in order to tap into the green energy needed to meet California's ambitious goals to combat climate change, we must build the transmission lines to access those energy sources."
The CPUC approved the decision proposed by CPUC President Michael Peevey to build the transmission line on a 4-1 vote. This vote was the culmination of an unprecedented three-year process involving extensive environmental review and more than a dozen public hearings. Commissioners also had two competing decisions from which to choose: a proposed decision by Administrative Law Judge Jean Veith to reject the project; and an alternate decision proposed by Commissioner Dian Grueneich to approve the line with conditions.
The decision acknowledges that the commission has the authority and responsibility to direct and oversee renewable procurement and will take steps to ensure that renewable generation is developed in the Imperial Valley as a result of the Sunrise Powerlink.
"Today's vote was truly a win for California," said Allan Zaremberg, Cal-CARE co-chair and President and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce. "The Sunrise Powerlink is a cost-effective way to expand California's renewable energy portfolio, increase energy reliability and help create thousands of jobs."
Cal-CARE is a statewide coalition of statewide and local business and labor organizations supporting the Sunrise Powerlink.