July 12, 2008
California
California
State regulators Friday released a retooled draft environmental impact report for the Sunrise Powerlink, the $1.5 billion, 150-mile high-voltage transmission line San Diego Gas & Electric wants to string between El Centro and Carmel Valley.
The revised California Public Utilities Commission report contains a new analysis of Sempra Energy’s proposed La Rumorosa wind farm south of the U.S.-Mexico border in Baja California and discusses 13 revisions to sections of proposed and alternative transmission-line routes.
Unchanged from the original 7,000-page report put out in January is the conclusion that five alternate projects would take a lighter toll on the environment than would Sunrise Powerlink. Those alternatives include building natural gas-fired power plants and solar panels on roofs in San Diego County, and putting power lines in different areas.
One alternate power-line scenario would avoid Anza-Borrego Desert State Park by following Interstate 8 into San Diego County from Imperial County, then cut north toward the North County backcountry.
SDG&E’s preferred route would run through Anza-Borrego, Ranchita, Warner Springs, Santa Ysabel, Ramona and Rancho Penasquitos.
The commission will take comment on the report through Aug. 25. Electronic copies of the draft report are available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm.
Hard copies of the report may be requested by phone at (866) 711-3106 or by e-mail at sunrise@aspeneg.com.
11 July 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/07/12/revised-power-line-report-out/