Sempra Energy’s power generation subsidiary has applied to the federal government for a “Presidential permit” to build a 500-kilovolt transmission line across the U.S. border with Mexico near Jacumba.
Sempra Generation, which owns and operates four natural gas-fired power plants in the Southwestern United States, filed the application on Dec. 20 on behalf of Baja Wind, according to a notice published in the Feb. 22 federal register.
The proposed transmission line would carry as much as 1,250 megawatts of electric power produced by wind turbines near La Rumorosa in Baja California, the notice says.
The total length of the cross-border line would be three miles, with about one mile extending on the U.S. side. The estimated cost of the project was not disclosed.
The notice also indicates the cross-border transmission line would connect to the Southwest Powerlink transmission line, operated by San Diego Gas & Electric.
Sempra’s permit application will go before the U.S. Department of Energy.
News of the application comes as the California Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday completed the last of five hearings on the draft environmental study of SDG&E’s proposed Sunrise Powerlink high voltage transmission line.
That line is intended to connect geothermal and solar power plants in the Imperial Valley with SDG&E’s San Diego power grid.
27 February 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/02/28/sempra-subsidiary-seeks-permit-to-build-cross-border-power-line/