Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr., D-Calif., and officials from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) have officially dedicated the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line. The line is expected to help carry energy from solar and wind farms in California's Imperial Valley to the San Diego region.
The Sunrise Powerlink consists of more than 110 miles of overhead 500 kV and 230 kV transmission towers and transmission line, six miles of underground 230 kV cable and a 40-acre, 500 kV transmission substation. SDG&E broke ground on the 117-mile line in December 2010.
On June 17, the transmission line was fully energized, and control was officially transferred to the state's transmission grid controller, the California Independent System Operator.
SDG&E notes that it has signed eight power contracts for more than 1,000 MW over the past several years for solar and wind energy in Imperial County. Two of these renewable projects are now under construction.
