San Diego Gas and Electric announced nearly a year ago that it would build and operate a high-voltage electric transmission line from Imperial Valley through the San Diego backcountry to the coast near Orange County.
Now, a lengthy timeline of environmental review and permitting proceedings at all levels of state government is kicking off with what the utility is calling an “extensive community engagement process” to inform the public about the line, named the Golden Pacific Powerlink, and gather feedback. It’s starting with virtual open houses in a couple of weeks.
The pathway is anything but certain, as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will have to consider where and if it gets built. While still in its infancy, opposition to the proposed route is already ramping up.
The 145-mile transmission line would bisect Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, widely recognized as California’s largest and most biodiverse state park. A conservation nonprofit said the line would affect the home range of native and endangered species, as well as alter the visitor and tourism experience the region depends on. And it could bring a new battle from Imperial Valley residents, who say their region is repeatedly used for projects that produce resources for others, while impacting the local environment…