California's "Green Energy Super-Highway"
Posted on Sat, Jul 28, 2012 @ 04:09 PM
The Governor of California calls it a "green energy super-highway." The recently completed Sunrise Powerlink Transmission line is similar in size and scope to the proposed Northern Pass Transmission project. It is an excellent example of how cooperation between local, state, and federal stakeholders and regulators can create real jobs from clean energy.
Most notable however, is the fact that Sunrise Powerlink was constructed in the 4th-best vacation spot in the United States (US News & World Report, 2011) eliminating concerns that such projects adversely affect tourism.
Below are excerpts from a press release issued by the Governor of California. (read the full press-release here)
ALPINE - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today dedicated the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line in San Diego County, which will deliver millions of kilowatt hours of renewable energy, strengthen grid reliability during hot summer months and help California meet its renewable energy goals.
“The Sunrise Powerlink is an extraordinarily sophisticated technology that will bring solar and wind energy from the Imperial Valley to San Diego,” said Governor Brown. “Most immediately, it will help keep the lights on during this year’s hot summer...”
The 117-mile, Sunrise Powerlink will eventually carry more than 1,000 megawatts of clean energy from solar and wind farms in the Imperial Valley to San Diego – enough to power over 650,000 homes...
The California Public Utilities Commission, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service all reviewed and approved the Sunrise Powerlink project before construction started. Following an extensive environmental review and permitting process, the project broke ground in December 2010. On June 17, 2012 the transmission line was fully energized...
The ceremony was held at the Suncrest Substation in Alpine, California. Governor Brown was joined by state, federal, local and business leaders for the dedication.
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