Sunrise Powerlink Questions & Answers

Beginning in September 2005, SDG&E spent about a year gathering public input on possible routes. After carefully studying the environmental impacts associated with each option, SDG&E supports the 120-mile southern route which avoids the Anza-Borrego State Park. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will ultimately determine the final route.

Q What is the Sunrise Powerlink?

AProposed by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), the Sunrise Powerlink is a new electric transmission line that would deliver power to more than 650,000 homes and businesses in San Diego and southern Orange counties. This new "energy superhighway" would also link the state's electricity grid to new supplies of clean solar, wind and geothermal energy in the Imperial Valley and improve energy security throughout Southern California.

Q How would the Sunrise Powerlink improve reliability in SDG&E's service area?

ASDG&E's system is connected to the state's electricity grid by only two transmission lines - the last one built more than 20 years ago. Due to population growth in this region (San Diego and southern Orange counties) and the resulting energy demand, those lines have become overburdened, leading to higher utility bills and increased reliability risks. Industry forecasts show that if steps are not taken the San Diego region will face energy shortages by 2010.

Q How would the new line improve system reliability in Southern California?

ACalifornia's 36 million residents receive their power via a network of interconnected transmission lines that provide reliable electric service. A disruption or breakdown of major transmission lines can compromise the entire system and put consumers across the state at risk for blackouts and energy shortages. By adding a vital new link to the state's energy grid, the Sunrise Powerlink would increase Southern California's energy supplies and reduce the risk of power outages.

Q How will the Sunrise Powerlink help California meet its goals to reduce dependence on fossil fuels?

AGov. Schwarzenegger and the state Legislature joined forces to create new state policies to fight global climate change. The first mandate requires utilities to derive 20 percent of energy supplies from renewable sources by 2010. The other major climate change policy requires the adoption of regulations and market mechanisms to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. To help meet the greenhouse gas reduction mandates, at least 30 percent of SDG&E's generation portfolio must come from clean energy sources by 2020. SDG&E and other utilities have identified abundant supplies of solar, wind and geothermal energy in the Imperial Valley to meet these goals. But developing these clean energy projects may stall or fail without new transmission lines. In fact, the California Energy Commission (CEC) has identified the lack of transmission lines connecting customers to these clean resources as the top threat to the state's renewable energy goals.

Q How will the Sunrise Powerlink help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California and fight climate change?

AThe Sunrise Powerlink will connect California to vast supplies of clean solar, wind and geothermal in the Imperial Valley, a desert and agricultural region east of San Diego. Using more renewable power means fewer conventional power plants that use fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases will need to be built. It is estimated that the line will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.3 million tons compared to the California Public Utilities Commission's plan to build up to five new power plants in San Diego.

Q Why doesn't SDG&E just build local renewable energy projects in the San Diego area?

ALocal projects, including rooftop solar panels on homes and businesses, are part of the equation, but they're not enough. Land costs and a lack of available renewable resources make large scale renewable projects in San Diego unlikely. On the other hand, the Imperial Valley could become the state's leading producer of renewable energy. In fact, over 6,000 MW of renewable energy projects in the eastern San Diego County and Imperial Valley are currently being studied, but new transmission is needed for these projects to be developed.

Q What is the proposed route for the Sunrise Powerlink?

ABeginning in September 2005, SDG&E spent about a year gathering public input on possible routes. After carefully studying the environmental impacts associated with each option, SDG&E selected a preferred 120-mile "eastern connection" route and several alternatives between Imperial Valley and coastal San Diego County. These routes are being analyzed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which will ultimately determine the final route.

Q What are the steps for getting a major transmission line built?

AThe Sunrise Powerlink has endured an unprecedented three-year analysis by the CPUC, the state agency with the authority to approve transmission lines for the three investor-owned electric utilities in California. The CPUC released the final environmental impact report for the Sunrise Powerlink in October, 2008. The final vote could come as early as December 4, 2008.

Q Will the Sunrise Powerlink reduce energy costs for ratepayers?

AYes. The Sunrise Powerlink will expand access to more affordable energy supplies through the southwest and reduce the need to run older, inefficient power plants that are very expensive to operate. During times of peak demand, California's transmission lines get jammed just like a freeway at rush hour. The Sunrise Powerlink will relieve electricity bottlenecks on existing transmission lines that cost consumers tens of millions of dollars each year in "congestion" fees imposed by grid operators.

Q How much will the project cost to build and who will pay for it?

AThe Sunrise Powerlink will cost approximately $1.8 billion. Because this transmission line will strengthen the energy grid for the entire state, its cost - and benefits - will be spread to ratepayers throughout the state.

Q Can't SDG&E meet its customers' energy needs just by building more local power plants?

AA balanced approach of adding more power plants and transmission lines is needed to maintain a reliable supply of power for consumers. Just adding more local generation is not the entire solution, especially as it becomes more difficult to find appropriate locations for new power plants near population centers. Continued focus on building conventional power plants to meet energy needs does nothing to increase the use of renewable power and would lead to more greenhouse gas emissions. A combination of local generation and more transmission lines to import affordable and renewable power is the best way to keep the lights on and meet the state's clean energy goals.

Q What major groups or agencies support the project?

AThe Sunrise Powerlink is supported by elected officials, government agencies, numerous business and labor organizations, and individual ratepayers throughout the state. Notably, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the California Independent System Operator, the entity responsible for managing California's energy grid, and the California Energy Commission strongly support the Sunrise Powerlink. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy has called for immediate action to build more transmission lines in Southern California, including San Diego because the regional energy grid is considered one of the weakest and most vulnerable in the nation.