In December, the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, is expected to make a decision on the Sunrise Powerlink, an electric transmission line proposed by SDG&E to be constructed between the Imperial Valley and San Diego.
The support of the community is critical to the approval of this new energy superhighway, which would be capable of handling the electricity needs of more than 650,000 customers. A major new transmission line is needed by 2010 to ensure reliable power for SDG&E customers.
Forecasts show that by 2010, the region will at times demand more energy than can be generated locally or imported on existing transmission lines. SDG&E also needs the Sunrise Powerlink to meet new state mandates requiring utilities to generate 20 percent of energy supplies from clean, renewable resources by the year 2010.
San Diego has grown more than 60 percent and energy demand has doubled in the last two decades, but a new electric transmission line hasn't been built in 25 years. This project would provide a critical link in the state's energy grid.
The cost of the project is nearly 1.3 billion, but it will reduce energy costs by more than $100 million per year. As a result of these savings, the Sunrise Powerlink will pay for itself over time.
In Carlsbad and throughout the entire county of San Diego, CPUC commissioners are gauging the level of support for the Sunrise Powerlink among individuals and the business community. Members of the public can e-mail their comments on the project to [email protected].
“It's our future and it's our choice,” said Project Manager Laura McDonald. “We can continue to build more power plants that rely on fossil fuels as recommended by the CPUC staff, or we can build the Sunrise Powerlink and interconnect to the vast renewable energy resources in Imperial County. Join us to be sure San Diego has a clean, green energy future to fight global warming.”
The 150-mile transmission line will bring Carlsbad and the communities of San Diego new sources of solar, wind and geothermal energy. The potential for solar energy in the Imperial Valley alone is staggering, exceeding 30,000 megawatts, which is more than half of California's peak demand.
If the project is approved, Stirling Energy Systems Inc., a developer of solar power generation equipment for utility-scale power plants, would place its SunCatchers in the Imperial Valley to generate power that would be sold to SDG&E.
“The Stirling Energy Solar Two project proposed for the Imperial Valley will deliver up to 900 megawatts, enough electricity for more than 500,000 homes,” said Stirling Representative Buz Schott. “This clean, renewable energy has no harmful emissions and is an endless source of fuel from the sun.”
The Sunrise Powerlink will have the ability to transmit renewable energy from the Imperial Valley to the San Diego region. It will help replace old fossil fuel power plants with clean energy and reduce millions of tons of harmful greenhouse gas emissions each year.
For more information, visit www.sdge.com/sunrisepowerlink.
The support of the community is critical to the approval of this new energy superhighway, which would be capable of handling the electricity needs of more than 650,000 customers. A major new transmission line is needed by 2010 to ensure reliable power for SDG&E customers.
Forecasts show that by 2010, the region will at times demand more energy than can be generated locally or imported on existing transmission lines. SDG&E also needs the Sunrise Powerlink to meet new state mandates requiring utilities to generate 20 percent of energy supplies from clean, renewable resources by the year 2010.
San Diego has grown more than 60 percent and energy demand has doubled in the last two decades, but a new electric transmission line hasn't been built in 25 years. This project would provide a critical link in the state's energy grid.
The cost of the project is nearly 1.3 billion, but it will reduce energy costs by more than $100 million per year. As a result of these savings, the Sunrise Powerlink will pay for itself over time.
In Carlsbad and throughout the entire county of San Diego, CPUC commissioners are gauging the level of support for the Sunrise Powerlink among individuals and the business community. Members of the public can e-mail their comments on the project to [email protected].
“It's our future and it's our choice,” said Project Manager Laura McDonald. “We can continue to build more power plants that rely on fossil fuels as recommended by the CPUC staff, or we can build the Sunrise Powerlink and interconnect to the vast renewable energy resources in Imperial County. Join us to be sure San Diego has a clean, green energy future to fight global warming.”
The 150-mile transmission line will bring Carlsbad and the communities of San Diego new sources of solar, wind and geothermal energy. The potential for solar energy in the Imperial Valley alone is staggering, exceeding 30,000 megawatts, which is more than half of California's peak demand.
If the project is approved, Stirling Energy Systems Inc., a developer of solar power generation equipment for utility-scale power plants, would place its SunCatchers in the Imperial Valley to generate power that would be sold to SDG&E.
“The Stirling Energy Solar Two project proposed for the Imperial Valley will deliver up to 900 megawatts, enough electricity for more than 500,000 homes,” said Stirling Representative Buz Schott. “This clean, renewable energy has no harmful emissions and is an endless source of fuel from the sun.”
The Sunrise Powerlink will have the ability to transmit renewable energy from the Imperial Valley to the San Diego region. It will help replace old fossil fuel power plants with clean energy and reduce millions of tons of harmful greenhouse gas emissions each year.
For more information, visit www.sdge.com/sunrisepowerlink.