A massive new power line proposal in Southern California could reshape how electricity moves across the state — and how much it costs to build out that infrastructure. San Diego Gas & Electric’s proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink carries an estimated price tag of $1.62 billion.
What’s happening?
According to the Orange County Register, the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink could extend into parts of Orange County and the Inland Empire in Southern California. The project is a 500-kilovolt transmission line intended to move large amounts of electricity, but its exact route is still unsettled, and there is no guarantee it will be built.
The outlet reported that before a transmission project this large can reach construction, it usually spends considerable time in review. Planning, environmental analysis, and public input generally unfold in several stages before any route is approved.
Supporters of the project, according to the Orange County Register, say the grid may need another corridor to carry large volumes of power. Whether regulators and communities accept that case is another matter.
Why does it matter?
Large transmission lines are often framed as critical to reliability. They can help move electricity from where it is generated to where people need it most, especially during heat waves, when demand rises, and the grid comes under greater strain…